Let me start this article with a disclaimer. There really are no universal truths when it comes to leadership. However, there are many attributes that leaders display. You may find it helpful to really embrace and practice these skills.
1. Authenticity
As an executive coach, I really get a front row seat to witness the thinking process of good leadership. And without exception, each one of them are probably the most honest and transparent people I know. There’s no posturing, pretending or puffery. Just pure – I want to learn, I want to know, I want to understand, I want to act. I’ve never had a conversation with a leader about how to pretend anything. Frank Sinatra was a leader among his peers and probably the industry at the time of his tenure. I believe he would never ever attempt to sing a song that he did not feel. This is true leadership. Authenticity.
2. Respect
I was working with a manufacturing CEO during the last recession. He was faced with having to lay off some people. He knew he needed to do this for the betterment and sustainability of his company. He struggled. He avoided. Until he came to the conclusion that as long as he was respectful, everybody in the company would understand what he was doing. I knew this man and he was very respectful to everybody. He took his actions but not without providing support and guidance in leading his company through the changes they need to take. Respect solves a lot of problems and good leaders demonstrate respect.
3. Clarity
Recall a time when you sat in the conference room and were confused: about the many events taking place, details, numbers, details and all the people involved. All this detail would set anybody back and make them feel unprepared to make decisions. However, good leaders don’t focus necessarily on all the details. They focus on the right details. They know what is important and what is not important. They synthesize the problem down to the primary concepts that need to be addressed. This is what is called dealing with ambiguity. Last year I was at a board meeting for one organization I’m involved in, and the problems were coming at us full steam ahead. The chair listened intently and then in one sentence summarized the entirety of the problem and the possible solution. This ability to cut through the noise and get to the essence of the problem and the solution is, very simply, comforting.
4. Plain Speaking
Once a leader begins to guide a solution to a problem, they don’t do it by using the same methods, phrases, words and concepts that others do. Good leaders speak plainly. A good analyst will explain things in nauseating detail with facts and figures and complexities that communicate to the listener that they have all the information. That’s what they’re trying to do – communicate to you that they have lots of information. But having all the information is not leading, that’s providing data. Most good employees do this and it’s good that they do because they provide a lot of information. On the other hand, the leader takes that information and communicates back and forward in a simple conceptual way so that others can understand and connect to the message. John Kerry, US Secretary of State, is an extremely bright man, but he had trouble running for president because he presented in a complicated way. Yes, things are complicated and we don’t want to ignore that, but leaders have a way of synthesizing information so that they can then communicate to large groups of people. If every time you express yourself with details and you’re confusing the listener you will not be seen as a leader. Speaking plainly, directly, using images and analogies will not only allow people to see your vision, but it will comfort them and allow them to recognize the leader in front of them.
5. Care
Finally, and most importantly, is that true leaders really do care. If leaders are in it for the bonus at the end of the year, or just the next promotion, people will recognize that. What people will also recognize is that if you’re invested emotionally to your organization or the problem you lead, they will do anything to help you and to follow you. I can tell you with certainty that leadership is not an accounting exercise. Certainly CEOs want to meet their numbers and take care of the shareholders, but that is a result of being passionately invested in caring for the organizations and the people they keep. Good leaders are about people, focused on people and they do it as naturally as waking up in the morning.
While there is no one way to lead, authenticity, respect, clarity, plain speaking and care define a leader. If you thought of the leader you most admire, I guarantee that these attributes would apply to them. Most of our lives we try to keep up, impress and maneuver. But leaders stop that nonsense and are comfortable enough with themselves to step into being authentic, real and a human being. The more comfortable you are with being the best human being you can be the better leader you will be.