Leadership is defined by the leaders who demonstrate it, and the traits and qualities they possess and that produce results. To me, leadership traits may be as unique to an individual leader as their own DNA. Nevertheless, I am going to throw my hat in the ring and give what I believe are the "six traits of leadership," plus one for a bonus.
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1. Accountability. Leaders have to be accountable for their decisions and their actions. An area manager cannot say this did not get done because person A did not do it. The buck stops with the manager. Likewise, the buck stops with the manager's director, the buck stops with the director's vice president, and ultimately the buck stops with the CEO. At the same time, leaders have to hold their staff accountable. Some leaders make the mistakes of covering up for their employees or finishing their employees' work for them. Leaders think letting this one person fail makes the whole team look bad. In actuality, not holding this one person accountable, makes the whole team fail because the person is failing without the opportunity to improve or find a more appropriate placement.
2. Integrity. Integrity is often confused with an ability to follow rules, regulations, policies, and laws. However, integrity goes beyond that concept. Integrity is the ability and willingness to follow rules, regulations, policies, and laws even when it is not required. Integrity also involves addressing unfair and unjust rules, regulations, policies, and laws because it may benefit someone else. Integrity is doing the right thing because leaders know it is the right thing to do.
3. Initiative. The phrases "It's not in my job description" or "No one told me to do it" rarely leave leaders' lips. If leaders see something that needs to be done, they do it. Leaders identify problems and then find solutions to those problems. The initiative may also be demonstrated by discovering and pitching new services, creating new businesses, and developing new ideas.
4. Calculated Risk Taker. Few leaders in any area if asked how they reached their leadership position would answer, "I just flew by the seat of my pants." Leaders do not fly by the seat of their pants. Rather, they take calculated risks. Warren Buffet is a leader in choosing stocks. How does he choose stocks? Does he close his eyes and pick a ticker symbol? No. He uses a formula he devised to choose stocks. He created a tool that calculates his risk.
5. Stick-To-It-Ivity. Walt Disney coined a phrase for leaders called "stick-to-it-ivity." For some leaders, this means sticking with a project or program until it is done. It may also be looked upon as "good old Iowa stubbornness." In general, though, stick-to-it-tivity means leaders are persistent, show perseverance, are dedicated, and are determined.
6. Productive. Anyone can set a goal. What makes leaders stand out is that they set goals and they achieve those goals. Some goals can be achieved quickly and some goals take longer to accomplish. Leaders recognize that different goals and different objectives have different time frames. In order to be productive then, leaders also must be flexible, adaptable, and able to compromise to reach objectives.
Bonus. Differentiation. Leaders are not like everyone else. In fact, leaders often have particular characteristics that make them unique. Individuals who try to conform and be like everyone else in the pack will not be able to rise to be leaders. Leaders must find their own niche and often make their own paths to leadership. This is the precise reason there is no one set of "six traits of leadership" that applies to every leader.
Sources:
Stephen R. Covey. The Leader Formula. The 4 Things That Make a Good Leader. Found online at http://www.stephencovey.com/blog/?p=6.
Drucker Institute. Two Aspiring Leaders Talk Leadership. Found online at http://www.druckerinstitute.com/2013/04/leaders-talk-leadership/.
John M. Buell. Defining Leadership: Behavioral Competencies for Success. Healthcare Executive Nov/Dec 2012. Found online at http://www.ache.org/pdf/secure/HEOnline/Nov-Dec12/ND12_Feature2_p18-29.pdf
A. Troutman. Defining the Characteristics of Public Health Leadership. The Nation's Health. October 2013 vol. 43 no. 8. Found online at http://thenationshealth.aphapublications.org/content/43/8/3.1.short
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