As we watch clips of the candidates, and watch congressional hearings on the Wall Street crisis, I thought I would explore LEADERSHIP, and the traits necessary to define it.
Harvard Business Review recently published a short article by John Baldoni entitled “Three Traits of a Tough Leader.” (Link at the bottom of this post).
In it, he posits that it’s not about what’s on the outside (gruff and ready), but rather what is inside (character and resilience). He also outlines ways leaders can demonstrate toughness:
They defuse tension. Maintain the sense of urgency, but give people some breathing room.
They get up off the floor. It’s not about getting knocked down; it’s about what you do next.
They let off some steam. Vent when you need to, but focus on the situation, not the person.
Lastly, the author discusses an element of toughness that is often overlooked: Humility. Owning up to failure is not a weakness; it's a measure of strength. First, it demonstrates a willingness to accept consequences. Second, it demonstrates humanness; human beings make mistakes. It also creates opportunity to move forward.
Evaluate your own experience --- and those of your leaders throughout your career --- against these traits. How have you (and they) faired?
I can’t resist moving this discussion into the current presidential race; and when you do, it’s easy to see how these traits need to apply to our country’s next “chief executive.” Based on the clips and speeches you have seen, how do you think they are doing?
Lastly, a survey was recently conducted by Summus, Ltd., a research and information-based consulting practice focused on enterprise management. They polled business owners and managers with the following question: Which of the following leadership qualities do you think is most important in a president?
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Character -- 816 votes, 43.38%
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Vision -- 715 votes, 37.89%
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Experience -- 169 votes, 9.02%
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Backbone -- 144 votes, 7.68%
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Empathy -- 39 votes, 2.03%
Current media rabble aside, character and vision come out on top in this focused (though unscientific) survey. We can only hope that voters use these criteria as an important part of their decision in this year's important "new hire"…