Managers do things right, but leaders do the right things.
We’ve written a good bit about the traits and characteristics a good leader should have, but what does a leader really look like?
It’s what’s on the inside that counts, but here are a few things to look for when picking out the leader in the room (or, better yet, being the leader in the room).
- They’re calm, cool and collected.
Good leaders are typically cool as a cucumber when it comes to dealing with the day-to-day stresses. This makes sense because, really, who would you prefer leading your team? The individual who always seems flustered and over-worked or the one who seems confident, relaxed and like they can handle it all?
- They’re present.
A good leader shows up on time. This is because, not only are they organized, but they respect their time, as well as the time of others. As the Woody Allen quote says, “Showing up is 80% of life.” A good leader shows up, especially for their team, and is as generous as they can be with their time.
- They’re open about flaws.
A good leader can be found sharing their knowledge with others. Rather than keeping things close to the chest, they’re as open about their failures as they are about their successes. A good leader is not the individual feigning protection; on the contrary, they’re the ones saying, “Here was a time that I failed, here’s what I learned and here’s how I’m better as a result of it.”
- They aren’t power hungry.
A good leader shares their power because they know that it takes more than one person to successfully run an organization. Rather than holding the power close to them, a good leader delegates the power and strives to create even more leaders based on what they’ve learned.
Do you see any of these traits within your organization?-
Leadership development enhances the quality of leadership for individuals or teams. The focus is on how to perform in a competitive, changing environment to gain others support and drive the organization forward. Talent management involves identifying emerging leaders for development, monitoring, mentoring & coaching.
