The quality of all leaders varies, in some cases, dramatically. So, what do the best ones do?
- Proactive – The best of the best are given a task or have something explained to them once, they act on it and they go one step further. They research online, they talk to many other stakeholders to get their extra advice, they find and talk to the best in the business and learn from them. I can feel the endorphins being released just thinking about these people!
- Take ownership – Jocko Willink a former navy seal Officer in his book “Extreme Ownership” outlined his core principles in being an effective leader. Jocko is an incredible human being and most of us are just regular people. The key principle he outlines though is that you just need to say out loud if someone or something happened in your team that did not go to plan, take responsibility for that failure and ensure you have the right systems in place to prevent it happening again
- Culture – Creating a call out culture, a team which effectively manages itself is often a place to find a great leader. A team where no matter the level, people have the pride and trust that they can call out one another if a job has not been done up to the level they expect
- Lead by example – Instead of taking the approach whereby you would show someone how something is done, they say “Y’all follow me, I got this”. You consistently are the hardest worker in the room, you have massive outputs, you think tirelessly about ideas for growing your team, up skilling your people, work towards you vision of how you see the business and constantly reiterate that to your team who also fully buy in to that same future
- Sacrifice – Not often talked about, but the best leaders will often sacrifice a lot. This isn’t cool or sexy, but its true. Friendships may go on ice for a period, or forever. You may be too busy or wrapped up mentally in your work to do everything that most “normal” people would do. But you are too focused to worry about that. If it isn’t feeding fuel to the fire of your goals, it is not important.
- Reward – You know the reward will be worth it. The promotion, after all those hoops, all those risks, moving locations, setting up a new division, whatever it may be. You had to do something or many things that no one else was prepared to do, but it will be worth it. However, you do not rest and you will continue to look for new goals and rewards as soon as that one you are fixated on is obtained. Plan for it now! What will you do once you hit your current goal? Try to chip away at that secondary goal early to get a head start!
