I am often asked, what are the attributes of a great leader? This can be in the context of recruitment or identifying those individuals which could potentially become the future leaders of a company.
While great leadership, to an extent, can be personal and subjective to the follower, there are some universal principles which keep surfacing over and over again in the leadership literature and best-sellers. Here are five I gave identified:
- They challenge their own assumptions
Great leaders may be smart, but they are humble enough to recognise there are smarter people in the room that they can learn from. They don’t restrict themselves from opinions and input outside of their own. They surround themselves with diverse perspectives to help them challenge them on questions like, “How do I know my decision is the right one?” or “Is there a better course of action here?”
- They are transparent
Transparency promotes an open culture of respect and openness, void of the usual toxic corporate metaphors like backstabbing, gossip, and throwing people under the bus. The business case for it has and always will be about the team – about strong relationships, collaboration and getting results. However, transparent leaders go beyond self-transparent behaviours: They allow others to voice their opinion and encourage emotional honesty and uncomfortable conversations in meetings
- They are learning machines
Great leaders recognise that we are in an age of unprecedented technological advancement. They develop their own competency by continuously learning and gathering expertise across multiple fields, not just their own. They also champion a “learning spirit” within the organisation, sending a clear message that “growing our people is one of our highest priorities.”
- They have mentors
Great leaders surround themselves with mentors they can approach for advice and honest feedback. They also choose their mentors carefully because receiving advice from the wrong people could potentially be a bad move. They find tried-and-true mentors with a high degree of integrity they admire and would like to emulate.
- They serve others
Leadership is not dictating, commanding, or imposing. It is being of service to others. It is empowering others to achieve their goals, bringing out the best in people, putting their needs ahead of your own, and helping people develop and reach their highest potential.
