So, what is it that you think makes a good leader? To start it off, here's what I think are the key factors that make a great leader:
- Relentless focus on hiring and developing world-class people
- Humility
- Constant communications and feedback
I'll write a separate posting on each of these, however, that's enough from me for now - the floor is yours...
Definitely those three are key.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably also add that great leaders need to have a genuine interest in the people they're leading.
Very keen to see some more articles and inspiration.
Cheers
--Phil
I think your on the money with your top 3.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that good leaders lead by example, they are inspirational and they create and foster a team environment in which all team members feel that they are valuable and respected members of the team.
Keep the good stuff coming.
To humility I would add consistency, compassion, openness and honesty. These are necessary ingredients for effective collaboration; people are coming to expect a dialog on work, not necessarily taking direction at face value. This requires a different type of leader, one comfortable inviting question and refining approach or strategy, willing to be wrong and create something new (whilst still providing enough council and guidance).
ReplyDeleteWhat makes a good leader?
ReplyDelete1. A person who is takes responsibility for a team and is completely FOCUSED on achieving a clearly defined mission. The leader knows where they are going.
2. A person who refuses to accept defeat in reaching their goal. A leader is a WINNER, even though they face defeat they refuse to accept a loss as failure, losses are setbacks on the way to ultimate mission accomplishment. accomplishment.
3. A leader doesn't just motivate others, they INSPIRE others to achieve beyond what they think is possible; their passion is contagious and causes other to accomplish more than they would under ordinary circumstances.
4. Lastly, leaders are passionate about what they do
Thanks all! Great comments, and fodder for future posts (I'm now up to 18 future posts, so I'd better get cracking). As stated at the start of this post, it's all about the input you provide.
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to more of your comments in future posts and taking your input, internalizing it, using your input to my own leadership better, and then spewing it back out as new posts!
Having had the priviledge of working for many great leaders, here are some of the attributes which really stand out for me:
ReplyDelete1) uncompromising integrity
2) respectful
3) courageous
4) intuitive
5) passionate
6) customer-centric
7) great communicator
8) passionate learner
9) big thinker
10) models behavior
A leader with these attributes attracts and retains great followers and focuses them on delivering sustainable customer value.
Mark - agree with your three. Something else that I've learned both as a leader and a follower is that great leaders make you want to please them. There's an instructor at my gym who makes me work my heart out - I can't even identify how he does it, but I feel like if I don't work hard, I might disappoint him and I hate the idea of disappointing him. I think it's largely because HE appears to put in so much effort and care so much.
ReplyDeleteAs a journo trying to motivate people who work with me (ie cameramen, editors etc), the best tool I've found is to make the job as fun as possible. If people like you and enjoy working with/for you, they want to do a good job for you to make you happy. And I also give plenty of thanks. If somebody does a great job for me, I go out of my way to acknowledge it both to them and in front of others.
And one final thought - sorry this is so long - I once had a boss who was too easy with his praise & it meant it was devalued. So I try to save hearty praise for jobs that really deserve it.
The blog looks great - I'll look forward to reading more.
Leigh
Mark - outstanding list, simple & to the point. I would encourage you to also look at Daniel Goleman's research on Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and his article "What Makes a Leader". Great reading and solid, research based findings.
ReplyDeleteRespect is earned! Not a-given!
ReplyDeleteJohn C. Maxwell wrote...
ReplyDeleteThis world needs leaders...
- Who take a little share of the blame and a little smaller share of the credit;
- Who work for the benefit of others and not for personal gain;
- Who handles themselves with their head and handle others with their heart;
- Who inspire and motivate rather than intimidate and manipulate;
- Who never place themselves above others except in carrying responsibilities;
- Who will follow a moral compass that points in the right direction regardless of the trends.
Fairly simple values...