I believe leadership is a tangible quality that you learn over time.
Others feel that leaders are born, and those conceived without the proper DNA are destined to be cogs in the machine.
Whatever school you subscribe to, there are distinct qualities exhibited by leaders which allow us to classify them as such.
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A few years back I read a great HBR article about Anne Mulcahy (chair and former CEO of Xerox corporation) which profiled and dissected her turnaround of the company. A summary of leadership qualities followed, which I have been meaning to get out of a notebook and onto the screen for some time.
If you meet 80% of these, you're on your way to legendary status...
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Great leaders:
- Provide clarity around long term direction
- Stay true to their values and the values of the company
- Are willing to step up to unexpected challenges
- Learn from others in their areas of shortcoming
- Have the courage to stand against advisors and withstand pressures from outsiders
- Value long term relationships and loyalty
- Are able to integrate complex issues into clear direction
- Lead through direct engagement with employees and customers
.....and a few more that I will add
- Give credit where it is due
- Admit when they are wrong
- Stir passion in their team
- Focus on the future, but attend to the present
- Take risks
- Never give up
See; Steve Jobs, Bono, Meg Whitman and Seth Godin. (Ohh..and of course, Anne Mulcahy).
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If you are in a position of leadership, or are looking to 'get in front of a parade', think critically about how you stack up against each of these criteria.
Pick one to improve upon today, and watch what happens.
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Any others we should add to this list?
......
Here's the list of suggestions from those who have read the post...Great Leaders:
- Are able to personally accept and enable the team to become comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty (Jeff Eckman, CEO, Blue Green Ventures)
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