Nothing happens unless leadership leads, which is very different from a leadership team that manages. Managing is yesterday’s news. Great companies and those that want to be great will hire executives, directors, and middle managers who know the difference between leading and managing, and who themselves are leaders.
Leaders show, they don’t tell. They lead by example. They clearly communicate their expectations, and their expectations are always at the highest levels. They represent the values of the company, and they hire for those values. They give their staffs all the tools necessary to be successful, including training and regular feedback, and then they get out of the way. Their door is always open, and they maintain the highest levels of integrity and expect their staffs to do so, as well. They demand respect and dignity throughout their areas of responsibility, and they are always respectful and dignified. They expect success and accept nothing less.
Research from The Forum Corporation tells us that leaders have some things in common.
Signs of Good Leadership
A strong intellect: Able to grasp new ideas quickly, engage in complex thinking, and be comfortable with ambiguity.
Technical capability: Possesses in-depth knowledge of the organization’s industry, business models, and operations.
Emotional intelligence: Strong, self-aware, self-controlled, and able to develop and maintain strong relationships.
Adaptive capacity: Learns from experience, listens and responds to feedback, and adjusts quickly to new situations.
A track record of success: Accomplished at combining all of these capabilities to get work done effectively with and through others in order to drive business results.
What have been your experiences working with leaders or as a leader yourself? What are the leadership assets, values and skills you most admire?
Writer’s Note: Excerpted from Lead With Your Heart.
Over the years I’ve worked with many managers but only a few leaders. A leader isn’t afraid to get into the trenches with you and help with grunt work when it’s necessary.
One trait of a good leader that’s not mentioned above is the ability and willingness to listen to other points of view and if he or she disagrees, to do so in a respectful way.
David,
Good point! To me guys like Jack Welch are good managers; ones like Howard Schultz are good leaders. Welch has his way and wants others to follow; Schultz wants the smart and best way and helps to make it happen.
Thanks for a well-articulated post, Lewis. I’d add this, too: true business leaders are empathetic–they understand the strength of showing compassion, first to their employees and then to their customers. This isn’t about being weak or maudlin. It’s about understanding our basic, shared humanity, isn’t it? As author of “Lead with Your Heart”, you understand this. Not down-playing any other leadership attributes you’ve alluded to, but more managers need to so that they can bear this in mind to truly become leaders.
Lewis, I’ll go with David’s comments on listening and expound on them a bit.
Leaders listen, and I mean really listen – and that’s a rare quality. Part of listening also means having an open mind to the ideas of others, so that you are actively listening, comprehending and understanding– and not thinking about what you’re going to say while the other person is talking…
Ted,
Great point! One would think I would have included it. Thanks goodness for readers such as you. Thanks Ted.
Paul,
You are so right. At the highest levels your point is critical to success. Great leaders surround themselves with people smarter as they. But to take advantage of all that smartness one must be “actively listening, comprehending and understanding. Thanks Paul.
My personal experiences have often included bosses who were insecure, micro-managing, or ineffective. One, in particular, was threatened by anyone on senior staff with strong leadership abilities and vision.
Working under these conditions made me very aware of the attributes that WOULD make a good leader. To me one aspect is to hire people with star qualities – team players who complement each other’s skills and help build the organization’s brand.
Elaine,
Hiring for the culture is critical. And then I recommend, when possible, promoting leaders from within.
I agree with the comments above… a good leader is someone who is secure with him or herself so as not to feel threatened by the good ideas of others.
One of my first bosses was secure enough that if a subordinate came up with a good idea that could be used, he’d be sure to let his boss know where the idea came from. It made the rest of us want to work even harder for him, since he was quick to give credit to others. In the end, it made him shine as a boss and leader.
Good point DAvid. No matter position of authority, credit should be given where due. It’s a big win all around.
Lewis, seems like we’re on the same wavelength, as I posted a similar topic yesterday.
What criteria make a great leader?
A leader depends on goodwill not authority. It’s not titles or hierarchy but consistent, visible actions that foster goodwill.
A leaders pulls you by acting as a role model.
It’s not about where you are, but what you could and should be. A leader will help others visualize and reach their goals.
Having a not about me, lets focus on “you” attitude.
The common theme in each criteria is a person who motivates others to express the best within themselves. That’s the hallmark of a leader.
Jesse,
Good stuff: This really resonates: “The common theme in each criteria is a person who motivates others to express the best within themselves.”
a great leader = Aware, Mindful, Anticipatory, & Skilled …with a Generosity of Spirit, and a Liberated Attitude.
AND they know how to position that leadership to be affective!
Great comments on leadership. You said that good leaders have adaptive capacity. I agree… especially in times of rapid change that businesses are operating in today. However, a recent study by IBM found that only 14% of organizations are very prepared to adapt to change. Something is wrong with organizational leadership if this is true.
Paul and Mike,
Thanks for sharing.
I agree with the signs of Good Leadership. Today success is largely related to the level of adapative capacity of the Managers.
Adapt and move forward or get pushed behind.
Adaptability is dynamic and one has to keep abreast of ‘what’s happening around’ globally and around you.
Kindly add the following qualities in your article: What Makes a Great Leader:
First of all a leader is borne and not made;
He is visible in any strange gatherings or crowds;
He does not suffer analysis paralysis but using his vision and wisdom
He must be creative;
He must be fair, assertive, generous, honest, and predictable;
He is committed, responsible, and comfortable;
He is an integral, open-minded personality who is friendly to his followers;
He must be dedicated, and humiliating, having a sense of humor;
Intelligence and elegance are an addendum to a leadership.