6 things that make a great leader
So, what exactly is great leadership? The challenge leaders face is immense. They need to be purposeful, resilient, energised, and values-led in the face of huge pressure and adversity. They need to create a powerful culture, enabling teams and organisations to innovate, grow and excel. And to create climates that are inclusive, ensuring everyone can bring their true and best self. And that’s before you even start to consider expectations around share price, sales figures, or profit margins.
When talking leadership, people often refer to famous leaders in history, but I think we learn more from what we experience directly. The boss you loved working with and always went the extra mile for. The person who gave you tough feedback but in a compassionate way that really accelerated your development. The leader who showed kindness when you were having a tough time outside work. The manager who genuinely meant and role-modelled ‘there’s no such thing as failure, just opportunities to learn’. We grow as leaders ourselves from these experiences. We see the leader we want to be.
Unfortunately, for quite a lot of people, thinking of leaders they have worked with who they have been inspired by can feel like a tall order. But we can learn as much from leaders who aren’t great as we can from those who are. The boss who didn’t consider your opinion, micromanaged, or undermined you. The leader who said one thing but did another or didn’t show respect or trust. In knowing the leader we do not want to be, we become clear on the leader we want to be.
We can take inspiration from outside of work too. I recently asked someone I was coaching who’d worked in multiple organisations to describe some she found to be an inspirational leader. She told me about an amazing woman who demonstrated true values led passionate leadership. She wasn’t from the workplace, she was a leader in her local community.
So what makes a great leader? The days of good leadership being seen as knowing more than others, setting direction on their own, expecting people to do what they say and not what they do, and never under any circumstances admitting you’re wrong, are long gone. Thankfully.
What we need now is openness, honesty, vulnerability. Real people. The willingness to speak out about what you truly believe in, what you don’t know, and to admit mistakes. Great leaders have a purpose beyond the balance sheet – as a person and a leader. And they share that. We need leaders who’s purposeful, values-based leadership, passion and positive energy infuse teams and organisations.
So, what are the six most important things a great leaders should do?
1. Be True to Yourself: Know your purpose and values and align your life and behaviours behind them – be your authentic self.
2. Walk the Talk: Don’t let there be a gap between rhetoric and reality – role-model what you believe in and what you expect from yourself and others
3. Listen and Learn: Be vulnerable, be compassionate. Listen to others and never stop learning about yourself, others, and everything in and outside of your organisation.
4. Trust and Empower: Create a climate where people and teams can fulfil their potential – believe in people and give them the tools and support to thrive
5. Create Inspiring Vision: Bring to life a compelling and inspiring vision with passion and clarity. Make the art of the possible live in your organisation
6. Be Decisive: Yes, you must listen to all the right people and delegate many decisions, but as a leader some decisions are yours and it’s your job to make them. Don’t shy away from that and accept that not everyone will agree with all your decisions, and that’s ok
And how do you know if you’re being the leader you want to be? Ask! Talk to people, ask them how you land with them, what they like about your leadership and what they would like to see more of. Keep listening. Keep learning. Keep growing – yourself, you people, your teams. And when the going gets tough, stay connected with your values, your purpose, and your people.