Some would say that leaders are born, not created. I would have to say that I believe that leaders can be created through the right environment and given the right information. I have seen this time and time again as people have come in to the companies I have created. Leadership is a requirement in our companies, even if it simply means to lead yourself in the direction of success. That being said, below are some key principles that any executive, director, manager, supervisor or team member can implement in an effort to becoming a more effective and productive leader.

  1. Approachable Under Stress: How do you respond to stress and what defense mechanisms do you have?  A good leader never makes his or her team feel as if they are bothering them or they are asking for too much.  We all have good days and we all have bad days; however, we should never allow our emotions to get in the way of always having an open door policy with the team.
  2. Dependable Towards One Another: A good leader must have a conviction about how much the team can depend on them.  It is a great feeling knowing that when we turn our backs to one another we are confident we are covered or protected by each other’s integrity and commitment to the team.  We always want to consider anything our team needs so we can move forward as a unit.
  3. Ownership Of Responsibilities: A good leader must understand what they are responsible for and to take ownership of it.  Responsibility is not a task, it is a burden.  It is something you carry with you.  We should never look for opportunities to pass the buck; rather, we should look for opportunities to step up and assist each other when needed or called upon.  Leaders can never take a day off from being responsible.
  4. Attention To Detail: Leaders must look to do things the right way at all times.  Pay attention because it is important and they care about the work as well as the people impacted by the work.  We must take the appropriate amount of time and think things through as well as collaborate to get additional input before completing tasks or projects.
  5. Concise; Yet Thorough: Good leaders will master this skill.  To get to this point we must be better planners, we must be prepared and we must know what really matters.  If we are not good at this we will never get the most out of meetings, our collaboration or each other.  We must always ask ourselves “what is the point, or what really matters, and how can we articulate that in a very proficient manner?”

You can learn more about how to create a Value-Centered Enterprise in my book, “Who Said So? The Questions Revolutionary Businesses Ask That Make Them Successful.”