The Characteristics of a Perfect Leader: 8 Essential Traits You Need Right Now
I'm going to hit on this topic. I know it's been covered to death, but I find that it's rarely discussed in a way that's both SIMPLE and MEANINGFUL.
I've observed leaders. I've been led. I've led. I've been misled. I have misled. I've read extensively on the topic of leadership. So I confidently claim authority to write on the topic. By no means am I THE authority. It's just that I have authority. So read on, and enjoy.
I'm also inspired to write on this topic, and that may be the most important factor. May divine wisdom light the way through me and into this piece, and provide the following simple and meaningful knowledge about the characteristics of a perfect leader:
The Characteristics of a Perfect Leader
Leaders have a vision, are confident in it, and ensure that everyone they lead contributes to, buys into, and knows that vision. They cheerlead the vision every day.
Leaders know where the organization or function is, and they ensure that everyone they lead knows as well. For example, are things going perfectly? What are the areas that need improvement? The point is that leaders need to know where they are so they can steer towards the vision.
Leaders have a plan to arrive at the vision, and ensure that everyone they lead knows the plan, and are engaged and trusted with its execution.
Leaders continuously oversee and ensure successful execution of the plan.
Leaders know everyone's role and purpose in execution, and continuously acknowledge people's contributions towards fulfilling their roles and purpose.
Leaders are incredibly adaptable to new ideas and change, and will quickly adapt their vision when required without delay.
Leaders put in incredible effort to develop, teach, and enable the people they lead.
Leaders create new leaders.
I think this is it. The perfect characteristics.
Backtesting the Characteristics
If I were to backtest this a bit, let's think about the common complaints about leaders:
"Micromanagers"
I'd say that these types are primarily missing many of these characteristics, the main ones being #3 (trust), #4 (oversee), and #7 (teach and enable). They tend to throw things over the fence with little guidance, lose awareness of execution, and then become overbearing.
"Don't know what they are doing"
These types likely lack #1 (vision). If they have a vision, they probably haven't done enough to get buy-in, or haven't done enough to set the context of where the team is (#2). They may also suffer from #6 (not adaptable to new ideas/change), overly prideful on the path to nowhere.
"They don't appreciate me"
Kind of obvious, these types of leaders are missing #5, and probably #4. Maybe it's over-delegating. The leader just doesn't have enough insight into the day-to-day operation. This one is a silent killer of the most productive people you lead. As a leader, if you cannot confidently say that you hit on #4 and #5, wake up and fix it—fast.
"They don't care about my growth"
Primarily missing #7 and #8. I don't understand why. I sometimes think that the majority of surprise mistakes can be alleviated by just taking a little time to teach and enable your team's success at the start.
"They don't listen to my ideas"
#1 and #6 are lacking. It's incredible how much brainpower is wasted by not fostering ideas from the entire team. I can't tell you how much I've learned from people on the teams I have led, and how impactful their ideas have been towards our successes.
"I can't find time to talk with my leader"
Ah, the busy type, stuck behind closed doors with the booked calendar. Find me such a leader, and I'll show you a leader that is missing some combination of, if not all, of the above characteristics. In my experience, these leaders are primarily lacking in #1 and #2 (no vision/adherence to vision). Without those two characteristics, all of the others suffer, such as #7. While it's understandable that a leader's time may be limited, it should never be limited to the point where people on the team cannot find any time with you. Talk about a missed opportunity. Think twice before cancelling that one-on-one so you can continue formatting that PowerPoint presentation.
So, how are you doing as a leader? Do you feel you are weak in any of these characteristics? Think about what you can do differently to develop and apply these characteristics. Do you have a clear vision? Does your team know it? Do you know where your team is? Do you have a plan to get to the vision? Do you know how well the plan is being executed? Do you know who is working on it and how successful they have been? Did you tell them you appreciate their successes? Did you spend time today to enable someone's success? Do you spend time to develop a new leader?
If not, get on it.
Remember, leadership isn't about being in charge; it's about taking care of those in your charge. The best leaders inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more. So let's strive to embody these characteristics and make a meaningful difference.