When you come across a great leader, you know it. You can almost feel their presence as if they take up more space in the room than anyone else. Somehow their greatness spreads to others.
Great leadership is tough to articulate, but we all know it when we see it. The best leaders find ways to introduce an empowering and inspiring dynamic. Problems become challenges. Complaints and apathy seem to fall away.
How do you become a leader? You can start by emulating the habits of the world’s top leaders. Here’s how they behave…
Top leaders play to their team’s strengths. Forcing people to do something they aren’t suited for is a recipe for disaster. Great leaders identify the strengths of each person on their team and assign work based on those characteristics. They don’t force square pegs into round holes. This comes from an ability to see people as people, not as numbers or titles.
Top leaders don’t need to be liked. They’re happy to be friends with their team, but they don’t need it. They make tough decisions if they have to. They aren’t everyone’s drinking buddy, but they are respected on some level. Like an army’s general, leaders inspire their troops to go to battle. (This isn’t to say a leader can’t be liked. In fact, many are quite likable, but it’s not necessary.)
Top leaders take responsibility. They know where the buck stops. If the team doesn’t come through, great leaders don’t point fingers. If they must take a beating from upper management, they do it standing up without complaint. They accept responsibility swiftly and begin taking steps to clean up the mess and fix the problem. They don’t throw their staff under the bus.
Top leaders are concerned about results. They create clear goals, communicate them to the team, and measure the team based on their performance. They don’t care about how many hours their teams work or how they got the job done, only that the work is quality.
Top leaders focus on the long term. They don’t stress about “urgent” tasks. They identify the tasks that address the team’s long-term goals and direct everyone to put their effort into what really matters. They don’t get caught up in petty politics, gossip, or company silos. They focus on what matters.
Top leaders like seeing their teams achieve. They want their staff to grow and accomplish great things. They don’t worry that their job is at stake. Great leaders lift other people up and take pride in other people’s accomplishments.
Top leaders exhibit their own good advice. They live by the values they preach. If they expect their team to behave a certain way, they do it as well. If they require communication, they communicate. If they demand world class customer service, they serve. They become role models.
Top leaders are transparent. They aren’t ashamed of their leadership style, so they don’t mind explaining their thoughts. They don’t fear their staff as rivals, so they share all the information they have. They don’t undermine their team; they give tools freely.
To become a better leader, it’s important to learn from your own team. How do they work best? What leadership style do they prefer? What works for one team might not work for another. The top leaders of the world know how to use the tools in front of them.
Is your quest to become a better leader? What do you need to improve?
Bob Dickson
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