The Secrets of Exceptional Leadership: The ABCs You Need to Know!

I love talking, writing, and speaking about leadership. It is one of those things that I can talk about for hours and completely lose track of time. Leadership, with its nuanced connections to nearly every aspect of our lives, is undeniably relevant in virtually any situation. Add to that the chaotic and turbulent nature of the world we live in, and leadership becomes indispensable.

Despite all its complexity the practical aspect of leadership is simple. Breaking leadership down to its foundational tenets is always a great place to start. I am often asked about the foundations for great leadership. For example, what are some of the fundamental aspects of leading effectively in any environment? I like to answer that question by introducing my ABCs of leadership. These ABCs stand for Attitudes, Behaviors, Characteristics, and Disciplined Desire. Let’s unpack each of these briefly.

Attitude.

Much has been said about attitude, it encompasses your perspective on life. It’s the lens through which you perceive and react to just about everything including your own self. Your attitude isn’t imposed upon you; rather, it’s a conscious choice you make. Shaped by your thoughts, your attitude is entirely within your control, as you have the power to take your thoughts captive and control them. Every good leader must have a great attitude (at least most of the time). So much of a leader’s effectiveness depends on their attitude. It’s hard to argue against the significance of attitude, but some do underestimate it. Simply stated an attitude is a way of thinking or feeling that is reflected in a person’s actions. Leaders must demonstrate an attitude that portrays excitement and enthusiasm. When a leader’s attitude generates positive momentum, it becomes contagious, and the team will generally respond. This does not mean that leaders need to be Pollyannish, on the contrary they must be realistic, but their realism must be filtered through an attitude of hope.

Behavior.

A good attitude leads directly to the right behaviors. A leader’s behaviors must be consistent with their philosophy of leadership. In this case behaviors are not a predefined list of actions that all leaders do, per se. In other words, leadership is not a competency, but a capacity based on practiced literacies. Behaviors are anything that show consistency between the leader’s actions and their beliefs. Unlike characteristics or attitudes, behaviors are allowed to shift and change as the circumstances dictate! Knowing which behaviors are needed for different situations and circumstances is really important for effective leadership.

Characteristics.

Characteristics are concrete, they do not shift or change. Leaders must demonstrate specific characteristics that warrant being recognized as a leader. Characteristics are differentiators. Leader’s characteristics distinguish them from non-leaders. This list of characteristics need not be long and should be able to transcend the context, in other words, they are applied everywhere, even when not “leading,” and includes integrity, resilience, self-awareness, empathy, and gratitude.

Disciplined desire.

Finally, leaders must have discipline relative to their desire to lead. An unfiltered and unquenchable desire for power is unbecoming a leader. A leader’s desire must be disciplined in the sense that they know their capacity and limitations. Yes, they strive to improve, but not at the expense of the characteristics listed above. A leader must be able to harness and control their passions.

These fundamental ABC’s of leadership are simple, but nor simplistic. They are a great starting point for every leader regardless of their role or current capacity. They are also tremendous reminders for seasoned leaders. Always keep in mind you can never outgrow your ABC’s.

Dr. Matthew Kutz is a professor, author and leadership scholar. for more visit www.matthewkutz.com