Great Leaders have a Coach and a Strategic Plan

We only grow when we are challenged by people more experienced than we are.  This kind of outside mentoring increases our competence. Whether through a trade or professional association, consultant, management coach, or simply having the input of someone more experienced, great leaders seek the advice of experts so that they can be their best.  This view from the outside helps us see more clearly and increase our impact.

Great leaders work from a written strategic plan no matter how small the task.  They constantly measure their progress in achieving their objectives.  More importantly, they are flexible and adjust the plan as needed.

Great Leaders Give Responsibility and Authority and They Want the Truth

A good leader recognizes that, once responsibility is given, everyone needs the authority and independence to make decisions.  Without authority and a measure of freedom people are typically unsuccessful and become frustrated and discouraged.

Good leaders also what you to tell them the truth, not what they want to hear.  They value the input of their team.  Many times the best ideas and greatest wisdom comes from those working in the trenches.  Great leaders ask their team what they think and take their ideas seriously. 

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen."

Winston Churchill

Great Leaders are the Chief Cheerleader of the Vision.

Great leaders keep a group focused on vision. Jesus understood the importance of vision when He said, "Can one blind person lead another? Won't they both fall into a ditch?” Leaders motivate others by sharing their enthusiasm for the vision.  The contagious nature of their enthusiasm raises everyone spirits as in spreads throughout the team. 

Great Leaders are Highly Visible.

A great leader takes the time to get to know and listen to those for whom they are responsible.  This is more than having an open door policy.  Great leaders circulate through their team several times a day encouraging, clarifying, and affirming them.

Leaders Establish the Organizational Culture.

Like a parent, great leaders lead by example and establish the organization’s culture.  This includes standards for treating coworkers, appropriate language, elimination of gossip, putting internal and external customers first, a servant mentality, and appropriate attitudes. Dee Hock, Founder of Visa believes that if the leader does not get it right, no one else on their team will either.  Says Hock, “If you seek to lead, invest at least 50% of your time in leading yourself—your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation, and conduct.”

Some of us have “leader” titles like Chairman, President, CEO, Pastor, department head or project leader.  Regardless of our station, whether a manager leading a department, a mother leading her children, or the President of the United States, we all lead something.  Everyone can aspire to being a better leader, myself included.  A major part of our job is to bring out the best in those we work and live with.  Novelist, historian and politician, John Buchan writes, "The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there."