Throughout contemporary history, there have been thousands of great articles discussing leadership and organizational behavior. In today’s entry, I will add from my experience what are some of the most important factors one must pay attention to when considering executives for leadership positions.
1. Intelligence: A smart person may likely make smart decisions and come up with smart ideas. They don’t have to be a genius. They have to be someone who reunites multiple abilities that allow them to understand situations and all their implications. Warren Buffett is a clear example of an intelligent man who clearly thinks of all possible scenarios and visualizes the future of his investments.
2. Communication: while not a great spokesperson, a good leader has to be able to effectively practice the process of sending and receiving messages between them and the group of people they is working with. The leader has to be an active listener; speak hard when needed and sincerely when required. The leader must manage the different communication levels that exist. Five time World Series Champion New York Yankee’s Joe Torre, and two time UEFA Champions League Champion FC Barcelona’s coach Josep Guardiola always say the right thing at the right time. They also encourage the team to give suggestions and to speak openly and freely at all times.
3. Authority: by this I do not mean either a loud voice or a commanding tone. It’s as simple as being able to make yourself clear to your group, and delivering punctual instructions that are well stated and impeccably transmitted. Bill Gates does not have either a loud or commanding voice, yet everytime I see him I am impressed, as each word that comes out from his mouth is the product of a rationality that commands authority by knowledge.
4. Efficiency: resources won’t be handed easily all the time, nor there will be full availability of them. Some times leaders will have to deal with shortages and/or incomplete tangibles. Those are the occasions when he or she must step in and use the best of anything and everything that is around him or her to reach the desired objectives. Soft-spoken Darwin Smith was able to turn Kimberly Clark into the giant that we know today by using a completely new business model that required to use tools he didn’t have at the time it was developed. I recommend you to dig into his story, and marvel at how efficient the company became under Smith’s tenure.
5. Fairness: never overestimate the people you work with, nor you should ever underestimate them either. Call-out when needed and reward when deserved. Proper management of balance in a team is critical to accomplish goals. Jack Welch has been known to be a prime example of justice and proper leadership. Bottom line is: be fair.
6. Confidence: if there is one aspect that is a powerful force that can drive you to new levels, it’s the trust and belief that you have in yourself. It comes with a combination of skills that include knowledge, logic and rationale, with what perhaps is the most important ingredient, which is self-esteem. Watch Band of Brothers and see how Richard Winters carried himself and his men through the toughest of situations by simply having the confidence of applying what he knew.
7. Innovation: out of the box thinking and developing strategies to implement the dreams you pursue is essential to set a new standard for your group. Don’t be a conformist; instead settle for new challenges every day. That’s what Steve Jobs did.
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