Ten Qualities of Great Leaders

As a manager, you could easily spend all day returning phone calls, sending e-mail and doing paperwork.  Please… don’t. 

As a manager, you could easily spend most of every day going to meetings; please don’t do that either. 

Don’t succumb to the trap of believing that your title or attending to your many demanding duties is what makes you important.  Don’t think for one minute that you are making a difference simply by handing out assignments and keeping score of the way your people perform.

Above all else, an effective manager — an EXCEPTIONAL manager — is a LEADER who, by his or her sense of vision, purpose and enthusiasm for the job, inspires confidence in those under his or her supervision.  By being the kind of person that your employees believe in, you also help them to believe in themselves and their own mission. 

Ten Qualities of Great Leaders:

1. Vision: A leader always keep in mind the “big picture” that encompasses both today’s and tomorrow’s target goals, and links each individual’s contribution to their achievement.  Passionate belief in these goals and the commitment to succeed is what team members find inspiring in a leader.
2. Integrity: The basis of trust.  It is more than just honesty.  It is revealed through your actions as much as your words.  Integrity is often revealed by your humility, willingness to change or to admit mistakes; this will bring you respect, not shame.  Your work ethic and consistency are its hallmarks.               
3. Ambition: A sense of competition can induce professionals to realize the best they have to offer.  The drive to succeed is incredibly powerful when coupled with integrity.  Mediocrity is unacceptable; the standard is excellence.
4. Creativity: Be open to what everyone has to offer.  Flexibility is an asset.  Problem solving is an essential and ongoing demand of leadership.   Be willing to take calculated risks.  Encourage initiative and feedback. 
5. Empowerment: Get the right people in the right jobs.  Delegation is one of a leader’s strongest tools.  Know when to meddle and when to let go.  Sometimes it’s best to leave a few things unsaid.  How you deal with mistakes and failures will define your leadership. 
6. Communication: Clear and consistent communication is critical.  Enthusiasm for the message enhances charisma.  A great leader is also a great teacher.  Communication is sometimes confrontational; demand that criticism be constructive.  Be an active listener and practice empathy.  It breeds loyalty. 
7. Personality: Great leaders have great personalities.  A genuine and respectful approach sets the tone for every interaction.  Building a team requires camaraderie.  A fun and informal atmosphere can be a competitive advantage.        
8. Appreciation: Make sure everybody counts… and knows that they count!  Followers disdain arrogance and revere modesty. 
9. Organization: Organizational skills are almost as important as competence and understanding of your business.  No vision can be achieved without a comprehensive plan that is practical and detailed.  Time management is the engine that drives success.  Meetings must be effective and efficient.  Scheduling is the framework that achievement is built on.   
10. Follow-Through: Great leaders are reliable.  Nothing erodes confidence faster than broken promises.  Persistence is key to successful achievement of goals.

Review this list of leadership qualities and take the time to assess how you rate in each one.  What qualities do you possess, and which do you need to develop?

Always remember that a good leader doesn’t sit back and demand more from his or her direct reports; a good leader first gives his or her best every day, to everyone on the team.  In the end, this is what brings out the best in everyone, and generates a level of success you could never achieve on your own.

Baker Communications offers leading edge Management Training solutions that will help you address the goals and achieve the solutions addressed in this article. For more information about how your organization can achieve immediate and lasting behavior change in managing others, click here.

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