Qualities of a Leader

Do you have the qualities of a leader?

I'm sure you know that leadership is not just a title. Leadership is what we bring to the organizations we lead in order to develop our people and achieve our goals. That's easier said than done and it doesn't necessarily come naturally.

When I think about the qualities of a high performance leader I notice similarities with what I would consider to be a high quality, high character person: curious, brilliant, adventurous, determined, attentive, focused, ambitious, strong, kind, worthy, ethical, resilient, spiritual, healthy...the list is long.

I've also come to believe that while many qualities are important, there are five that are absolutely essential. You could lead without these qualities, but the job is much harder that way and the outcomes are more volatile.

The five qualities I aspire to are: courage, clarity, creativity, compassion, and centeredness.

I define centeredness as the skillful use of the other four qualities in harmony with the situation, people involved, and balanced in a mindful way. Centeredness provides a sense of balance, focus, and presence.

What's on your list?

doug smith

Leadership Actions:

Create your own list of leadership qualities. Make it a long list.
When your list is complete, read thru it and add any additional qualities that occur to you.
Circle the five on your list that you consider to be the most important.
Reflect on how you live those five qualities and consider what development opportunities they present for you.
Plan your next leadership development and goal.

Oh, and I'd love to hear from you on how this works for you.

Keep developing -- the world needs better leaders!

Comments

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