What qualities signify great leadership? We know the typical answers…example, courage, inspiration, etc. But this Forbes article provides a different perspective, highlighting leader characteristics you probably hadn’t considered.
8 Ways to Spot Great Leadership
by Mike Myatt, published by Forbes online.
Let’s start with what leadership is not: Leadership is not a monologue, a speech, a lecture or a filibuster. Leadership is not talking at or over people. Leadership is not sequestered, does not live in a bubble or operate in a vacuum. Leadership is not exclusive or arrogant. Leadership is not about the leader.
Military units do not function…battles are not won…unless there exists a clear system of recognized authority and discipline. The concept of command is everything, but too often we make “command” about the commander. This article does a great job of showing that leadership is as much about empowerment as it is about authority.
Here are some more highlights:
- “The best leaders are not interested in who is right, but what is right. They not only embrace dissenting opinions, but they seek them out at every opportunity. Real leaders are just as at ease when unlearning as they are when learning.“
- “The job of a leader is to create, expand and preserve options – not limit them.”
- “You can always spot great leaders because they don’t overshadow others –they elevate others.”
- “The best leaders are tuned in to the emotional needs of those whom they serve. They engage, they listen, they empathize, and they acknowledge. They treat you as a colleague not a subordinate. They seek to understand not direct.“
- “A my way or the highway attitude is not an attitude that serves leaders well. Choosing a side is not as important as understanding both sides in a way that finds common ground and brings people together by closing positional gaps.“