What Makes a Great Leader?
If you've been getting my newsletter for a while, by now you know that I am focused on great leadership.
So, what makes a great leader? What capabilities are needed to take your leadership skills from good to great?
I along with Vistage speaker Amy Ancira, VP of Executive Search and Managing Director of HireBetter, were asked these questions by Vistage recently.
The result was our insights summarized in 15 qualities and characteristics that make a great leader.
There could be more, maybe less but 15 seems about right. You can find the complete article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/15-great-leadership-qualities-characteristics-vistage
Here are a few of the highlights.
What are your top two or three qualities that are most important to you? Share these in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you.
Empathy
“Forty years ago, when I started in business, it used to be that you showed up for work, put your head down, and went. The pandemic, and the blurring of the lines between work and life, removed that division,” says Fenton.
Great leaders recognize employees are real people dealing with real challenges in their lives, including work. “Meet people where they are,” he adds.
Authenticity
“Great leaders can show up and be their authentic selves,” says Ancira. “We’ve left behind the old ways of putting on a workplace persona, and we can be open and honest about the things that are really going on in our lives. Doing this unlocks people’s potential because we can all show up as our true selves and not pretend ones.”
This attitude inspires creativity, connection and productivity across the organization.
Self-Awareness
“Being able to accurately assess yourself, your actions, and how you’re experienced by others in the organization, and make shifts as needed is crucial to be a great leader,” says Ancira.
Self-awareness means you can be “fully present in the moment to whatever is going on inside and outside of you, and how it affects those around you,” Fenton explains.
Courage
“It takes courage to lead at all — to stand up, make decisions and be vulnerable. And many times you make decisions with imperfect data,” says Fenton.
Great leaders have the courage to make those decisions, take calculated risks, pursue new, untested problem-solving methods, and accept responsibility for the outcome.
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate
Ancira states that “great leaders allow people to have autonomy in their work.” That autonomy builds trust and allows employees to grow their skills and confidence.
“Delegation allows for some white space to emerge in your calendar,” adds Fenton.
He advises leaders to use this time to think, stare into space and contemplate. When you engage in this passive meditation, you open yourself up for creativity and innovation instead of just grinding out the next task or being busy for busy’s sake.
Vision
A major aspect of leadership includes creating a vision for the business by deciding where the organization is going and getting others on board. “The pandemic has exposed a cultural need for more than just a bottom line, profit-driven leadership,” says Fenton.
“Being purpose-driven is key. From baby boomers to Gen Z, we all want to do work that contributes to something bigger than ourselves and can make a difference.”
Influence
“Great leaders set the vision and bring people along, rallying them around the meaning and purpose of the organization,” explains Ancira. They inspire others to follow their lead by leveraging their skills and motivating employees to work hard to reach their full potential.
“It’s been said before, but it’s especially true in leadership, ‘Actions speak louder than words,’” adds Fenton.
Accountability
Accountability is the willingness to take responsibility for one’s own actions and decisions. Ancira believes that “great leaders can admit when they are wrong.” They hold themselves and their team members accountable for their actions and decisions. “The buck starts and stops with leaders,” adds Fenton.
Until next time!
