I walked into the office Friday and was immediately taken back by the heavenly aroma of biscuits. It was a cold January morning and my boss had brought a large bag of Chick-fil-a biscuits for the staff. He wasn’t trying to win brownie points or get on our good side, he merely wanted to invest in his staff and show that he cared.
Leaders are everywhere. They help shape our homes, communities, organizations, and businesses. We are dependent on them to trail blaze new terrain and navigate rough waters. So, what are the characteristics of a good leader? What sets a good leader apart from the others? We can typically point out bad leaders, and our culture is very good about social shaming them, but can you identify a good leader? Below are a few characteristics found in good leadership.
Professional Development and Self-Awareness
According the Teresa Goode, EdD, associate teaching professor for the leadership program at Northeastern University, effective leaders focus on developing their emotional intelligence. By doing this, leaders adapt better, receive feedback from others in a more accepting manner, and are better listeners. Broken down, the better someone understands themself and their personal weaknesses and strengths, the better they can identify them in the team and better lead its members.
Communication
A leader is nothing without good communication. The best leaders can communicate in multiple ways, effectively conveying their message in a manner that is best received and internalized by the individual. Having the ability to listen and communicate with multiple people across different roles, cultures, languages, and social identities is a daunting task, but essential for an effective leader. The quality and effectiveness of a leader’s communications is directly linked to the success of the organization.
Development of Others
Did you know that the average tenure of an executive is 4.9 years? During a 2020 study done by Korn Ferry, CEOs averaged only 6.9 years with a company, which was down from eight years in 2016. And according to the US Department of Labor, as of January 2020 “he median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.1.” The statistics speak for themselves. People are not staying with their jobs nearly as long as they did 50 years ago. The average person will have 12 jobs in their lifetime.
An effective and strong leader is always developing others. They know that they will not be leading the same group of individuals for an extended period of time. Good leaders develop other leaders, and train their replacement (without trying to). By using the situational leadership theory, a leader adapts their style based on the individual and task at hand, effectively developing the employee and enhancing that employee’s skill set.
Manners and Respect
“Didn’t yo mama eva teach you manners?” I live in the South and manners are a big deal! A simple “please,” “pardon me,” “thank you” go a long way. Leaders exhibit manners on a regular basis. They are thankful for those they lead and show it. It is not always a grand gesture like an award or a plaque. It can be a simple smile, or affirming word. It can be a chicken biscuit or buying lunch for the staff. A leader respects his/her crew and is aware of issues at work and outside of. They are empathetic with those they lead.
Empathy
One aspect true leaders show is empathy. The Center for Creative Leadership states “If you show more inclusive leadership and empathetic behaviors towards your direct reports, our research shows you’re more likely to be viewed as a better performer.” Active listening and understanding are imperative for improving the workplace conditions.
“Train people well enough so they can leave, but treat them well enough so they don’t want to.”
Richard Branson
Richard Branson hit the nail on the head A good leader invests in themself so they can invest in their workforce. They can relate to, empower, encourage, communicate, and develop their associates. An employee who feels valued and appreciated will have a better work ethic, higher productivity, and will stay with that leader longer.
Sources:
https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/characteristics-good-leader/
https://maexecsearch.com/average-c-suite-tenure-and-other-important-executive-facts/
https://www.kornferry.com/about-us/press/age-and-tenure-in-the-c-suite
https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/top-5-leadership-qualities/
Jeff Fyke 