What Do You Look For in a Leader?
What attributes do you look for in a leader?
I asked this question of a group of aspiring leaders I recently spoke to and here are the top five attributes this group said they look for in their leaders.
1.??????? Call it like it is. Provide direct communication and feedback. Leaders who can communicate directly and honestly build trust and clarity within their teams. It fosters an environment where everyone knows where they stand and how they can improve.
2.??????? Prudent risk taking. While risk is inherent in leadership, effective leaders assess risks carefully and take calculated steps to manage them. Balancing innovation with caution ensures progress while minimizing negative impacts.
3.??????? Speaking truth to power. Leaders need the courage to challenge the status quo and advocate for what's best for the organization, even if it means confronting higher-ups. This openness can prevent detrimental decisions and foster a culture of transparency.
4.??????? Accountability and ownership. Admitting mistakes and taking responsibility demonstrates integrity and builds credibility. It also sets a positive example for accountability throughout the organization.
5.??????? Developing future leaders. Investing in the growth and development of team members not only strengthens the organization's talent pool but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and empowerment.
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These attributes collectively contribute to creating resilient, adaptable, and forward-thinking leadership. It's inspiring to see these qualities valued by emerging leaders.
?What leader attribute would you add?
About John Gronski
Major General John L. Gronski (U.S. Army Retired) is the founder and CEO of Leader Grove LLC, a leadership consulting firm. John is the author of two books, “Iron-Sharpened Leadership” and “The Ride of Our Lives” and is an international and Fortune 500 speaker. Learn more about John at?https://johngronski.com/
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John created a great online leadership development program. You can take online leadership development courses including Cultivating Trust, Introduction to Emotional Intelligence, and Conflict Management. Introduction to Change Leadership will be available soon and more courses will follow. Once you complete a course, take a short quiz, attain an 80% score, and download a certificate of completion. Find out more and enroll at?Store.LeaderGrove.com
Chairman, Economic Forum Deutschland e.V.
7 个月Good question, John. After some 12,000 executive evaluation interviews, I′ve dared to reduced leadership to nine character traits. Depending on the circumstances, these traits alternate regarding their order and degree of importance. The following is not ordered, and therefore not numbered: Trustworthyness/iintegrity Radiance and the ability to attract people Rhetorical skills and the ability to communicate Analytical skills and knowledge of the field in which leadership is required Vision and the capability to see through the haze, hectic, and chaos of the present, to recognizes realistic goals Energy, physical and mental Courage Conviction and the determination to hang in for the long haul Decisive, makes decesions
Optimist and realist; interested in economic, political, and military strategy
7 个月1. Presence. being calm when things go sideways. 2. Communication skills. An effective leader must have superb verbal and written skills. Probaly should add social media skills. 3. Ask questions. The type of questions one asks shows what is important. It also helps improve understanding. Asking questions also helps show those you lead that you care about them. If you take the time to ask questions, you are taking time to help someone. 4. Most people like to stop after three points, so consider this bonus points. Vision. A leader should have a concept where a company, unit, section is headed. You are only going to lead the team for a period of time. What do you want to accomplish? Where do you want to lead your team?
HR Manager at LinkedVA
7 个月Accountability is everything! When leaders own up to mistakes, it sets a powerful example for the entire team. It's refreshing to see leaders who walk the talk.
CEO @ CEO Zones | Culture, Execution, Optimization TM | Expert How can we serve others together?
7 个月Thank you for sharing.