Leaders are in short supply. It is becoming increasingly difficult to identify high potential and emerging leaders. Those that are good, know it, and are demanding high levels of compensation. The good ones are not afraid to move around. Not only are they willing to change jobs, but they are also willing to change careers and industries. I am constantly asked to identify the characteristics and behaviors of a successful leader.
What Drives Success?
Successful leaders understand how to self-govern. They do not wait for somebody to tell them what to do or to provide training. They constantly seek their own training program and look for ways to develop individually. They understand the importance of leading across the organization. This means that they may at times lead their managers, peers and/or direct reports. They are comfortable in doing this. They understand their role and the power they possess. They do not overstep their boundaries, yet they manage to create success on all levels.
How do they do this? They do it by understanding their own personal strengths and the areas where they need to develop. They are constantly seeking information about their abilities and behaviors. They are not afraid to ask others for help. They willingly share their goals. They clearly define what needs to be done, before they ask how they are going to do it. Once it is defined they will not settle for mediocrity. They are continually stepping up to new levels and leveraging the perceptions of others to reach those great heights. They do not expect to be told what to do, they determine what do and then they do it.
Avoiding Traps
Not only do they know what to do, they also understand what not to do. They avoid the traps that can derail their success. They live in the moment and forgive themselves when they make a mistake. They realize that mistakes are part of the process and so they don't criticize others when they make mistakes. They treat each mistake as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. They do not make destructive comments about co-workers, instead they build others up. They understand that the contributions of others carry equal weight to their own. They are not self-centered; they can easily subordinate their own agenda to that of the group or team. They do not wait for success to come to them; they go out and get it.
How do you rate your leadership capabilities?
What are the strengths you can leverage?
What areas do you need to develop?
The good news is that the characteristics and behaviors of a successful leader can be learned and developed. The best way to start is to ask lots of questions of those that you think exemplify the kind of leader you would like to become. Go ahead and pick their brain. You will be surprised to find out how willing they are to share their secrets. They know how important it is to learn from others and that is why they will be willing to help you.
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