Sustainable Excellence Xtras #99 - Leadership Qualities That Stand The Test Of Time

Do your leadership standards and qualities stand the test of time?

Would the leadership attributes that were in vogue 20, 30, or 50 years ago still be able to be used to effectively lead people today?

Here are five traits of great leaders according to fifty years of Gallup Research that was published in Inc. Magazine (Mautz - 12/16/2019):

1. They Inspire Teams To Get Exceptional Work Done - A primary manner to inspire teams is through communication where you mind the 3 P's: project confidence, provide critical information with hope and reality, and promoting a sense of togetherness and belonging.

2. They Set Goals And Provide Resources For Teams To Excel - The best goals get everyone on the same page working to accomplish a common objective. To accomplish this, set 3C goals: common, compelling, and cooperative.

3. They Influence Others To Act, Pushing Through Adversity And Resistance - They realize the influence comes from personal power, not positional power. They listen with the intent to act. In times of adversity they realize they're the eye of the storm and being calm and collected serves as a touchpoint, while understanding many will take their cues from them.

4. They Build Committed, Collaborative Teams With Deep Bonds - The best leaders understand that a sense of interdependence is a powerful force and that membership in an interdependent team affords access to a learning lab where employees openly exchange ideas, problems, solutions, and feedback.

5. They Take An Analytical Approach To Strategy And Decision-Making - The best leaders leverage data to drive their strategies and decision-making, but balance both by using their gut. Great leaders also know how to create efficient decision-making processes that involve the stakeholders, as appropriate without being too bureaucratic.

Effective leaders have to be respected in order to be successful, however earning that respect takes time and commitment. Leaders understand that they are always in the spotlight, that everyone is watching how they handle themselves, and that a single lapse in character or judgment can debase their reputation and force them to have to lead from positional power.

All leaders want to last and stand the test of time. Great leaders strive for consistency and excellence. Regardless of your current standing as a leader, make sure you are a life-long learner who is always growing and expanding your knowledge to effectively lead others.

Please check out the video below to learn more about leadership qualities that have stood the test of time. Also, please leave me a comment about your thoughts on what traits make an effective leader.