Strong Leaders Are Essential to Your Business, But What Do They Look Like?

187980499America is fascinated with fostering leadership. And to develop our leaders, we train, discuss, role play and test. I have sat on both sides of the table in many such sessions and have concluded that those who achieve — and, more important, maintain — leadership roles exhibit five common tenants. Some leaders are born with these traits, but they can also be assumed through training and practice.

Guiding vision and passion
Leaders have a clear vision of what they want to do, both personally and professionally, and the strength to persist in the face of setbacks and failures.

In short, true leaders know where they are going. They have clear passion and see the future as opportunity to do all the things they haven’t yet done. They take to heart and exemplify the saying “Unless you’re the lead dog, the scenery never changes.” When you know where you are going and why, clarity ensues.  That allows for honest assessment of progress and gives reason to dust off and persevere when the going gets tough.

Mastery
Leaders haven’t simply practiced their vocation or profession … they’ve mastered it.

Developing mastery is hard, but solid leaders know their field inside and out. Think about the ice skater with one chance to execute a difficult move. The only way she can perform to her ability is through countless hours of repetitive drills. Many in business prefer to skip the drills and go straight for glory, but doing the hard work behind the scenes communicates that you know how to roll up your sleeves and do the job, and others will sense that you are credible … and they will follow you. Mastery allows you to speak with conviction and be a problem seeker vs. a problem solver — both true signs of leadership. On the flip side, many people struggle when they don’t have the mastery. It takes self-confidence to admit in large groups that you don’t have particular expertise, and in these situations I like to recall a great line from the movie Glenngarry Glenn Ross:  “Always tell the truth George; it’s the easiest thing to remember.” Leaders have the confidence to tell the truth, and their humility buys them credibility.

Perspective
Shifting your stance changes you. You take the same set of facts, shift the vantage point and everything looks different.

The truth behind this concept is that good leaders know how to look through different lenses and adjust. There is no one-size-fits-all, “perfect” decision. Without perspective, you may be a good leader to a small group of people, but you’ll be a one-trick pony. As an example, I started in this business in Chicago, and it was there I mastered my trade — or so I thought. With my successful track record, I moved to New York City and assumed that what worked in Chicago would work in New York. Was I ever taught a few fast lessons! Everything was different. Just because something works in one place, doesn’t mean it will work everywhere. This experience gave me new perspective. I believe in getting out of your comfort zone. Attend meetings that are outside of your responsibility; take on a role that’s not your dream job; move around the organization or within your field. With broad perspective and the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, you’ll find it’s easier to make good decisions.

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Strategic thinking
Begin with the end in mind. Then seek simplicity and question it.

Leaders must use strategic thinking to plan where they are going. For example, mountain climbers don’t start climbing randomly. They start with where they want to finish and then plan the simplest route using the three ideas discussed above. They have a clear vision of their destination, mastery of climbing skills and perspective to know the pitfalls they might encounter. They are experts at finding the simplest path, because a complicated path is harder to navigate. Another component of strategic thinking is that American business recognizes and rewards left-brained accomplishments (analytics, calculations). Strategic thinking, however, requires right-brain activity (creativity, imagination). Successful left-brained managers promoted into leadership roles frequently struggle with strategic activities because they haven’t practiced right-brained thinking. But strong leaders must develop and use both sides. Influential leaders recognize the ever-present and obvious need to support existing programs or structures (left brain) and the equally obvious need to change them (right brain). I know excellent leaders who must work hard to engage their right brain. It’s not easy, but essential.

Getting people on your side
People must honestly believe the person they are following.

If you exhibit the four tenants above, people will naturally trust and migrate to you. It may sound cold, but a basic economic fact related to leadership is that for other people to be on your side, they must know they are getting something better by following you than by not following you. True leaders don’t want others to follow because they receive a paycheck to do so. They want to exude a strong vision and create an outcome that sincerely helps the people involved. If they do this, people naturally want to be on their side, which is a true hallmark of a strong leader.

MORE: The most important question for leaders

Traci Fiatte

Traci Fiatte
Traci Fiatte is group president of Randstad Staffing.

Traci Fiatte

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