Leadership - Part 2
Traits of a Successful Leader
There are two main areas that influence a person’s decision (consciously or unconsciously) to follow your leadership, your character and / or skills. Other things do affect the decision process but it is these aspects that will be the deciding factors.
I’ve pulled together some straightforward lists of characteristics and skills that are considered the key to good leadership. These are known as leadership ‘traits’. I am not claiming these are the definitive areas for development, I’m merely showing some examples of the opinions that are out there. You must never forget to take your own personality and environment into consideration when considering any of these.
I have always had an issue with how individual’s interperate lists of single words. The context, the reader’s point of view, his or her own motivations and so on can skew any definition of a word. This is not the place to start a catalogue of leadership definitions, but keep this in mind when reading the following lists.
Chris Widener on http://www.top7business.com/ suggests that these are the ‘Top 7 Character Traits Of Extraordinary Leaders’. I think there is a lot to be said for this simple approach, see what you think.
Top 7 Character Traits Of Extraordinary Leaders
Integrity
Optimism
Embraces Change
Risk Taker
Tenacious
Catalectic
Dedicated / Committed
I’ve had the following acronym floating about for some time and forgotten where I’ve had it from; I think this is a handy reference and seems to cover all the major leadership traits.
JJ DID TIE BUCKLE
Justice
Judgment
Dependability
Initiative
Decisiveness
Tact
Integrity
Enthusiasm
Bearing
Unselfishness
Courage
Knowledge
Loyalty
Endurance
The U.S. Army have done quite a bit of work in leadership, as you might expect, and have come up with some interesting stuff. I have selected their ‘Leadership Principles’ and ‘Character Traits’ to include here. I have edited their list of ‘Leadership Principles’ slightly to make them a little more relevant but the basic principles are in tact. As you consider these next two lists, keep in mind the environmental ‘structure’ that they were developed for.
Leadership Principles
Understand and be functionally proficient in whatever you do
Know yourself and seek self-improvement
Know your followers and look out for their welfare
Keep your followers informed
Set the example
Ensure the task is understood, supervised and accomplished
Develop your followers as a team
Make sound and timely decisions
Develop a sense of responsibility in your followers
Employ your followers in accordance with their capabilities
Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions
Character Traits
Bearing
Confidence
Courage
Integrity
Decisiveness
Justice
Endurance
Tact
Initiative
Coolness
Maturity
Improvement
Will
Assertiveness
Candour
Sense of humour
Competence
Commitment
Creativity
Self-discipline
Humility
Flexibility
Empathy/Compassion
If you compare these with the ‘JJ DID TIE BUCKLE’ list you can see how the environment, and even potential followers, have changed what traits we think a leader should possess. This is nothing to be overly concerned about; it only suggests that the positive traits of a leader can be somewhat bespoke.
There are two main areas that influence a person’s decision (consciously or unconsciously) to follow your leadership, your character and / or skills. Other things do affect the decision process but it is these aspects that will be the deciding factors.
I’ve pulled together some straightforward lists of characteristics and skills that are considered the key to good leadership. These are known as leadership ‘traits’. I am not claiming these are the definitive areas for development, I’m merely showing some examples of the opinions that are out there. You must never forget to take your own personality and environment into consideration when considering any of these.
I have always had an issue with how individual’s interperate lists of single words. The context, the reader’s point of view, his or her own motivations and so on can skew any definition of a word. This is not the place to start a catalogue of leadership definitions, but keep this in mind when reading the following lists.
Chris Widener on http://www.top7business.com/ suggests that these are the ‘Top 7 Character Traits Of Extraordinary Leaders’. I think there is a lot to be said for this simple approach, see what you think.
Top 7 Character Traits Of Extraordinary Leaders
Integrity
Optimism
Embraces Change
Risk Taker
Tenacious
Catalectic
Dedicated / Committed
I’ve had the following acronym floating about for some time and forgotten where I’ve had it from; I think this is a handy reference and seems to cover all the major leadership traits.
JJ DID TIE BUCKLE
Justice
Judgment
Dependability
Initiative
Decisiveness
Tact
Integrity
Enthusiasm
Bearing
Unselfishness
Courage
Knowledge
Loyalty
Endurance
The U.S. Army have done quite a bit of work in leadership, as you might expect, and have come up with some interesting stuff. I have selected their ‘Leadership Principles’ and ‘Character Traits’ to include here. I have edited their list of ‘Leadership Principles’ slightly to make them a little more relevant but the basic principles are in tact. As you consider these next two lists, keep in mind the environmental ‘structure’ that they were developed for.
Leadership Principles
Understand and be functionally proficient in whatever you do
Know yourself and seek self-improvement
Know your followers and look out for their welfare
Keep your followers informed
Set the example
Ensure the task is understood, supervised and accomplished
Develop your followers as a team
Make sound and timely decisions
Develop a sense of responsibility in your followers
Employ your followers in accordance with their capabilities
Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions
Character Traits
Bearing
Confidence
Courage
Integrity
Decisiveness
Justice
Endurance
Tact
Initiative
Coolness
Maturity
Improvement
Will
Assertiveness
Candour
Sense of humour
Competence
Commitment
Creativity
Self-discipline
Humility
Flexibility
Empathy/Compassion
If you compare these with the ‘JJ DID TIE BUCKLE’ list you can see how the environment, and even potential followers, have changed what traits we think a leader should possess. This is nothing to be overly concerned about; it only suggests that the positive traits of a leader can be somewhat bespoke.
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