Leadership is more than simply giving orders. To be a successful leader you must inspire people and motivate them to give their all. Whether you are already a successful leader or think that you may be in need of some leadership development, you should be aware of the different styles of leadership so that you can effectively decide how best to lead your team to success.

1) A Leader who Listens
In many cases, a leader does not have all the answers. When managing talented creative people, often the best thing a leader can do is listen to his team and take on board their thoughts, ideas and concerns. By cultivating a leadership style that welcomes dialogue, the leader can be certain that he will be informed of any problems well in advance and that his team will always bring him winning ideas.

2) A Leader who is Decisive
Without clear direction from the top, it can be easy for a team to lose its way and become caught up in differing points of view and potential ways of going forward. A leader who makes firm, confident decisions can allow the team to focus on a shared path.

3) A Leader with a Vision
Often, a leader will be the only one who has a clear picture of the overall strategy. A leader who keeps sight of this vision can leave the minor details to others while she concentrates on the bigger picture.

4) A Leader who is Fair
A leader who is fair and even-handed will earn respect from those who they reward and those who they discipline. By cultivating a reputation for honesty a leader can make their team feel more valued and take rebukes as a learning experience rather than a personal slight.

5) A Leader who Learns
Successes and failures are themselves not as important as what steps and decisions led to them. A leader who analyses past actions can give her team better direction and truly lead, rather than simply reacting to events as they happen. Through her leadership, development of the whole team becomes a natural process that leads to further succes