Good leadership exhibits maturity. However, maturity is not an inborn trait. It is cultivated through firsthand experience and continuous learning. A confident and skillful leader with meager maturity holds no value. So, when choosing a leader as an inspiration or someone to look out for, ensure that they have the qualities of being mature.
Growing into a mature leader can be hard. But, it is the need of the hour. We are part of an era where people need mature leaders like Dr. Michelle Corral more than ever to guide them on the right path. While good leaders offer quick solutions, what makes them great is the process behind driving these solutions. In this article, let us go through why maturity is important in good leadership.
Qualities of a matured leader
Before deciding if maturity is important in leadership, let’s understand the qualities of a mature leader. When you realize the traits that make this character, it will become easier to draw a conclusion.
1. Command respect
We are not referring to literally commanding employees and executives to respect. Rather, a mature leader has an aura that commands respect. Their actions and decisions will make the subordinates and other people look up to them.
By understanding the feelings of employees and paying individual attention to everyone, a leader becomes mature. This will also help the leader to take thoughtful decisions when it is related to the welfare of the organization and the individuals.
2. Carry humility
Humility becomes a basic characteristic of a mature leader. A mature leader is neither selfish nor self-absorbent. They tend to focus more on the development of the employees. They give a chance to everyone to develop and succeed in their career.
A mature leader doesn’t think about their individual welfare. Instead, they focus on the welfare of the organization and the community. They realize that they are not the only person responsible for their success – it is a collective effort.
3. Commit to progress
When we are talking about commitment, we are referring to the leader’s goals and objectives for the organization. It is not restricted to individual growth. It is more on collective growth and how the leader can take informed decisions for everyone’s betterment.
Dr. Michelle Corral is an excellent example of how commitment drives maturity. She has served her life for the welfare of others. She has taken steps to motivate the affected and bring them back from ashes like a phoenix in the making.
4. Take ownership
Whether a leader is mature or not, one basic trait that they must possess is the ability to take ownership of what they do – here, the entire organization. It is not limited to success or failure. It extends to the complete process right from its initiation to the end results.
When a leader takes ownership of the process, they gain maturity. This maturity stems from the understanding that they are responsible for what happens within the purview and any negative effects should not hamper the leader’s confidence.
5. Have values
We are not talking about values that change with time and culture. We are referring to deep-rooted values that exists in leaders since their inception in this role. These values shape how they are in their professional and personal values.
The mature leader understands that they owe their success to these strong values and stick to them. No matter how challenging the situation, their move forward with unwavering resolve and stand by their values while carving their path to success.
6. Exude patience
There is no mature leader unless they exhibit patience. No matter how difficult the situation or how troublesome the environment is, good leadership stays calm and tries to get along with the situation. They analyze the situation and then work on solving it.
Patience will grow other qualities in a mature leader. It make them good listeners and they began to speak only when necessary. Their brain is wired to work more on analyzing, rather than reacting with drastic decisions. Mature leaders hold ample levels of patience.
7. Think forward
A mature leader does not cry over spoilt milk. They also do not take decisions to enjoy instant results and accolades. A mature leader is a visionary whose activities are small crumbles that when combined lead to a bigger effort.
They think two-step ahead and never ever work on instant fixes. Irrespective of the severity of the situation, mature leaders do not rely on temporary fixes. They deal with the situation with a futuristic approach and ensure that the same problem does not occur again.
Dr. Michelle Corral – A true example
A real-life example of a mature leader is Dr.Michelle Corral. She is the founder and president of Breath of the Spirit holy ministries that spread the word of the lord to the people. She is also the founder of Chesed International Charity which helps people in affected areas across the globe to recuperate from hardships and move forward in life. Having all the above-listed values, she is the right inspiration to look up to become a mature leader and serve this society.
Concluding thoughts
A leader becomes incomplete if they do not hold the above-listed traits. Hence, maturity is very important in good leadership. Earning maturity is not an easy task. It is a lifelong adventure that involves extensive practical learning and real-time experiences. It is a combination of various stages. At each stage, the leader will learn a value that will help them to proceed to the next stage. Depending on their ability to handle the pressure at each stage, the leader will either improve, fall, or become stagnant in the same position.
