Leadership

Leadership sets the stage for success – or failure.

Multiplication. It’s pretty important if you’re an elementary student about to take a math quiz. But it’s even more critical if you’re leading an enterprise. Why? Because a leader’s style has a multiplying effect, one that ripples through the rest of the company.

Of course, effective leadership will look different for every leader and every situation. Gandhi and Churchill are both remembered as iconic leaders though their styles couldn’t have been more different. However, a good leader should embrace at least one of seven essential leadership qualities.

While there’s no formula for good leadership, there are certain leadership qualities you should cultivate. Pick one and make it your superpower!

First, there’s Authenticity. To lead with authenticity, you’ll need to put your money where your mouth is and live your company’s core values. Do you tout your company as innovative? Then you better innovate! You won’t build the culture you want to create unless you exemplify it.

Second there’s decisiveness. Sometimes the decisions you need to take as a leader are clear-cut. But a decisive leader is always able to come to a decision, even when faced with several compelling choices. The decisive leader analyzes potential outcomes, but she also knows when to bite the bullet and commit.

The third quality is focus. A leader who shows focus doesn’t get bogged down in busywork or caught up in office politics. He has a short list of priorities, and he focuses on these – and these only. Anything that isn’t critical to the company’s success is irrelevant.

Fourth is the quality of personal touch. Employees who work for leaders with a personal touch are invested in their firm because they know their leader is invested in them. This leader makes a point of getting out from behind his desk to take a hands-on approach.

Leaders who demonstrate people skills, the fifth quality, make a point of consistently delivering good feedback and recognizing their staff’s achievements. And when it’s time to deliver not-so-good feedback, they do so in a supportive, constructive manner.

Lots of leaders can communicate, but leaders who actively cultivate the sixth quality, communication, make it their priority! Everyone from their CFO to the security guard knows what this leader’s vision is.

Finally, leaders who focus on being forward-thinking – which is the seventh quality – don’t dwell on the past. They stay ahead of the competition by focusing on the next big trend, the next great idea, and the next technological breakthrough.

So which one of these seven qualities do you possess? To lead well, lean into it.