Block by Block – The Building of a Great Leader

Block by Block – The Building of a Great Leader

Many a study has been conducted to vet out the common traits present amongst the best leaders in the world. And save for a few unique characteristics of each great leader, they all have several key things in common within and because of their leadership styles.

And that really shouldn’t surprise you. The same thing is true whether you are studying the habits of leaders, athletes, teachers, artists, sales people or realtors. The best all have much in common. And the smart ones among us study those on the top of their game to gain insight and direction. Emulating the elements that make others successful is a proven path to improvement, as long as you remain true to yourself and you honor your defining values.

To embrace this concept, I wanted to share with you a commentary recently presented by Dr. Janice Presser of the Gabriel Institute. She answers the question “What are the top 10 interpersonal skills found in great leaders?” See what you think:

1.     They are team players.

2.     They are coherent (neither rigid nor diffuse) in all their interactions with others.

3.     Depending on what they are leading, they are either highly inspirational, in which case people are drawn to follow them and their vision, or they are excellent at shepherding people toward the goal. Occasionally you find people who are good at both.

4.     They take initiative, especially in innovation companies. They seize the moment, and go for the opportunity.

5.     They clearly get that other people have points of view that may not exactly mirror their own. (They might not like it, but they definitely get it.)

6.     They aren’t consumed by greed. Their ambition and desire to win extends to their team, organization, stakeholders, and especially their customers.

7.     They aren’t know-it-alls, even though they are generally smart.

8.     They know how to depend on other people: their trust is highly desired and valued.

9.     They respect all living things.

10. They openly express their faith in the team, that together they can achieve the vision.

I have witnessed many of these skills within the best leaders in my career. And the pure absence of these traits is blindingly evident.

There is no easy path to leadership. It often comes from surviving great trials and challenges in life. See, here's the thing. It is not just a collection of traits, skills, or bits and pieces of one person’s experience because, indeed, a leader does not exist in isolation. A leader is part of a team, and often it is the team – in all its complexity – that challenges, and teaches, leadership.

Leadership is a privilege. Leadership is a commitment. And with leadership comes great responsibility to both the cause and the people. Always look for the next building block to make the structure stronger. Greatness is just around the next corner.