Basic Leadership Attributes Everyone Should Know and Every Leader Should Practice

Experts have debated the most appropriate leadership model for centuries. Are leaders born, or does leadership primarily depend on a given situation? There have been hundreds of books written in support of each leadership model. The debate will continue for many years to come. Regardless of the model that creates leaders, there are some fundamental skills that every leader should learn and practice for truly effective leadership. These approaches not only support leadership principles, but can also dramatically increase the performance and morale of every employee in an organization.

The problem we face in the United States is the fact that our school system, expectations, and organizational infrastructure do not focus on the soft skills which are critical to organizational and leadership effectiveness. Take a look at any job posting on the internet seeking a manager. How many of those “requirements” actually determine a great leader? The answer is probably “few” or more likely “none”.

The primary focus on most managerial requisitions are technical based. We have trained ourselves to believe that a top technical performer will make a great leader. Realistically, this is hardly ever the case. That top technical performer has achieved excellence utilizing attributes that are not generally the attributes a leader needs to succeed.

After conducting hundreds of analysis and consultations for companies around the World, we have narrowed down the ten basic skills every one should know and every leader should practice. These attributes develop a platform for highly effective leadership in any organization.

1. Honesty is the only policy!  Honor your word and keep your commitment. This instills trust and creates positive rapport. Your employees and peers will go out of their way for you, if they trust you. This is how the General gets the grunts to head into a battle against overwhelming odds. You may be unable to reveal information due to confidentiality or other constraints. Instead of telling individuals that you do not know, be honest, and tell them you are unable to say at this time. Remember, trust is the hardest thing to earn yet the easiest thing to lose.
2. Check-up from the neck up. Do you really know yourself? Have you conducted a self-analysis of your behavior, personality, and leadership style? You have to be able to lead yourself before you begin to lead others. In order to successfully lead yourself, you have to know yourself. Take control of your own life and then set your goals on leadership. After completing your self check-up, examine the personality styles and behavior characteristics of your peers and subordinates. Determine the adjustments you need to make to effectively deal with those personalities. Do not try and change others!  Instead, focus on making positive modifications to yourself and others will follow you.
3. 20/15 Vision. Many people do not understand the significance of an optical measurement. The 20/15 measurement simply means that what the normal average healthy eye can see at 15 feet, you can see at 20 feet. Leadership vision should be measured the in the same manner. You have to be able to see better than the average person. Create a vision for yourself and your organization and keep it at least 20/15. If you ever underestimate the value of a good vision, walk around with your eyes closed!
4. Do not give up. When asked, perseverance has proven to be one of the top noted attributes provided by some of the most profound leaders of our time. Perseverance drives success. The easy path does not result in significant rewards. If times are tough and the road you have chosen is rocky, then stick it out. You will not only build character, but also expand your self-limiting expectations.
5. Be humble. Before you begin to lead, you must be willing to follow!  Humility is a crucial characteristic at the core of every successful leader. Nobody likes an arrogant person and nobody respects  arrogant leaders. Your job, as a leader, is to support those that work for you and not the other way around.
6. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. Spend the extra effort to become a better communicator and accept responsibility when communication is not clear. Individuals with great public speaking skills have proven to receive more promotions and generally have a higher annual income. Rarely does too much communication cause problems in an organization. Surveys indicate in most organizational instances that more than half the workforce feel that their leadership does not communication enough. Communication is one of the easier skills to master with proper training.
7. Get a role model, mentor, or a coach. Quality leadership skills are perfected in the same manner as every other skill. You need a good coach that will adequately help you attain fundamental leadership skills which you will need to practice along the way. A “good coach” is the key here. A professional golf player started with a coach that showed them the basics necessary to swing a golf club. A great swing is what makes a professional golf player successful. If a golf player initially learned the improper way to swing, and never had a good coach, they will not likely achieve the success of a professional golfer. Get a coach/mentor, learn the basics, and practice your leadership “swing”.
8. Have some fun. Find those things that you enjoy doing, and go do them. You cannot be serious all of the time. Talk to people and let them know how you have fun and if possible let them see you have fun. Fun is contagious and it helps build positive relationships. If you have not had fun in your job recently, odds are that your work environment is stressful, tense, and not rewarding. Start off with a genuine smile and observe how people react. This is only a small glimpse the power of fun can have on an organization.
9. Dare to dream big. Do not accept the historical way of operating as the correct way. Continued complacency has never resulted in any significant accomplishments. The journey of Columbus, expeditions of Lewis and Clark, or Neil Armstrong’s Moon landing would have never occurred without some big dreams. In my experience, accepting the status quo has caused more organizations to fail than any other single shortcoming. Personal leadership operates under the same principle. Go after you big dream, take a chance, and make some positive changes in your life.
10. Be supportive and be kind. Take some time to closely observe your peers and subordinates. When they are experiencing problems, work challenges, or personal life changes, be supportive. When my Grandfather died, I was serving overseas in the U.S. Navy. The Commanding Officer disapproved my request to return home for the funeral. I was extremely upset and unable to concentrate on work. A new Chief took me aside, listened to me, provided some suggestions, and then treated me to lunch. This made me feel like someone really cared. Years later I told this story to another sailor that I served with. He told me that the same Chief treated him to lunch when he and his wife experienced a miscarriage. I am not sure this Chief understood the importance of his time and $3.00 lunches, but that same Chief was commissioned, promoted, and now has his own Naval Command. Do not undervalue the importance of being supportive and being kind. You may be one person in the World, but you may also be the World to one person…

More and more small businesses and large corporations the world over invest in programs, retreats, and sessions that focus on corporate leadership training. Companies enlist these leadership training services to teach their employees-and perhaps learn something themselves- vital business skills to empower them to not only be great team players but also strengthen their capabilities as leaders. Take some time to examine yourself and your organization. Determine if some additional coaching and/or training may be necessary for you to accomplish your leadership goals.

Contact details:
Frank Beck
Chief Executive Officer,
Magnovo Training Group LLC
E: frank.beck@magnovo.com
www.magnovo.com