Traits of great leaders
Every exceptional organization starts with great leadership. But what truly sets the best leaders apart? The traits of great leaders go far beyond charisma or title — they are rooted in authenticity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to inspire and empower others. Here are ten defining qualities that distinguish the leaders people choose to follow. According to Google, these are 10 traits of the very best leaders. Pretty good stuff…
What Defines Great Leadership
1. Be a Good Coach
If you care about your employees, by default, you’ll invest the time and energy necessary to help your team members become the very best versions of themselves. After all, it’s not all about you! Accordingly, that is only half the story. Secondly, as leader, you’re the facilitator or if you are a basketball player, think of yourself as the “point guard.” You’re not there to be a fixer. Instead, it is best if you ask great questions, not be the answer person.
2. Empower your team and don’t micromanage them
Growing up, I never enjoyed my parents attempts at micromanaging me. Likewise, it carried over to my professional career when like most of us, I worked for a few overbearing bosses. Certainly, empowered employees have been shown to be more engaged, more committed and have higher job satisfaction. Conversely, if you tend to be a micromanager, stop that! As leader there, if you are a micromanager, stop that! Payback here is decreased turnover.
3. Create an inclusive team environment
I’ve been blessed in both my personal and professional career by being part of a winning culture and winning. I’ve not met many people in life that are satisfied for very long being at being a loser. In fact, I don’t enjoy being around losers. As my good friend David Perkins likes to say, “I only want to be around people that bring me up.”
4. Have a team that produces results
Especially, give members of your team the tools to succeed. Simplify work processes and workflows to the degree so that folks don’t get bogged down in minutiae.
5. Be a good communicator
According to former Proctor & Gamble CEO A.G. Lafley his job was 90% communication, especially the next point.
6. Have a clear vision
If you haven’t read this book, I would encourage you to do so. Afterward, don’t let fellow team members sail right into the rocks! Additionally, as a fellow leader, I would encourage you to be collaborative in the development of your strategy. Don;t just foist it on folks.
7. Support fellow team members careers and discuss their performance
If you care about your own career, care equally or more about the careers of your fellow team members. As a fellow leader, your people crave feedback, you owe them that.
8. Have the expertise to advise the team
In your career, if you have “been there and done that” be sure to share by “being there and doing that” with your current team. Another key point, read everything that you can get your hands on and stay current on business and industry trends, e.g. AI in the workplace
9. Collaborate
Before in number 6 above, we talked about the art of collaboration. I often said to my contemporaries that the difference between a MBA and a BS is (teaching) the art of collaboration. Correspondingly, collaboration happens when each team member feels accountable and interdependence with fellow members of his/her team.
10. Be decisive
Lean in. Conviction, and belief in a decision, even if later proved wrong or inadequate, is better than no decision. Consider the alternative. Kicking the can down the road by unnecessarily delaying a decision paralyzes an organization.
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