Great Leaders are the Chief Cheerleader of the Vision.

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  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. Says Jack Welch,"Good leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion."

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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.

Great leaders are also wonderful listeners. Says Richard Branson, "Being a good listener is absolutely critical to being a good leader; you have to listen to the people who are on the front line."

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.”