Our new programme ‘Leading in formation’ is achieving excellent results. These workshops are planned primarily for the leadership teams of professional firms or organisations.
It is interesting to see how the input from different organisations varies. Unique and valuable information is gained through the groupwork and this is consolidated after each session often providing the starting point for further individual reflection and then groupwork at the next session. One exercise requires that they describe an outstanding leader by listing up to 10 characteristics that a leader of that caliber would demonstrate. Individuals start from scratch with very few guidelines and thus the input is fairly spontaneous but results in quality conversation in the groups. The process is as important as the outcomes.
Below is the consolidated input after the first workshop session for a hospital management team. They have done an excellent job. However, I don’t necessarily agree with all their points and many need expansion. At the next session, the information will be further refined. Many of the points below could fit under different headings, but I have included them only once. Please consider all the attributes below before reflecting on the questions at the end of the article.
An outstanding leader is some-one who has:
- Good communication skills
- High E Q
- Integrity
- Self-belief
- Strength of conviction
- A vision
- Management skills
- A good sense of humour
Words that describe the outstanding leader’s characteristics:
- Accountable
- Action-oriented
- Active
- Ambitious (a ‘go getter’)
- Approachable
- Assertive
- Bold
- Capable
- Compassionate
- Confident
- Consistent
- Dependable
- Determined
- Driven
- Empathetic
- Enthusiastic
- Fair
- Flexible
- Focused
- Fun-loving
- Gentle
- Honest
- Humble
- Influential
- Innovative
- Inspiring
- Inspirational
- Kind
- Knowledgeable
- Motivated and motivating
- Objective
- Open
- Optimistic
- Passionate
- Patient
- People-oriented
- Punctual
- Reasonable
- Resilient
- Resourceful
- Sensitive
- Skillful
- Spontaneous
- Supportive
- Tenacious
- Transparent
- Trustworthy
- Unafraid
An outstanding leader is some-one who is:
- Able to identify their own strengths and weaknesses
- Open to constructive criticism without taking offence
- Open to taking advice
- A good ‘active listener’ and willing to listen
- Not a slave to rules
- A mentor
- A good planner
- Gorgeous (I liked that one!)
- Open to new ideas
- A pillar of support
- Open to suggestion
- Willing to admit that he/she has made an error
- Encouraging and encourages others
- A decisive and fair decision-maker
- Born to be a leader
- Able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of people
- A friend
- Engaged
- Able to recognise potential
In relation to their team, an outstanding leader
- Is accessible to the team
- Empowers the team
- Is a team player and works well in the team
- Has team focus
- Gives credit to his team
- Maintains communication between the team
- Understands the team concerns
- Leads by example
- Is group-oriented
- Is able to coach the team without supervision
- Offers training
- Knows what the team is capable of
- Works with the team (or person) and discusses with them before making a decision
- Achieves goals through delegating appropriately
- Understands the team
- Delegates interesting tasks to the team
- Is a role model who assists and guides in the right direction
- Assists those who are stumbling and shows direction
- Recognises the individual efforts
- Shows interest in the team
- Takes interest in you as a person
- Shows interest in individual and the team development
- Understands the needs of the team
- Is able to identify weaknesses and strengths
- Creates a happy work environment
- Positively influences the team
- Makes people accountable for their actions
- Takes the ‘heat’ for the team
- Leads with his heart
- Stands firm and calm in a crisis
- Offers solutions to problems
- Gives positive and negative feedback
- Shares relevant information
- Shows fortitude
- Imparts knowledge
- Acknowledges achievements
- Gives guidance
What else does the outstanding leader do?
- Participates
- Takes risks
- Sees opportunities
- Seeks to understand
- Recognises potential
- Guides
- Deals with conflict
- Engages
- Thinks outside the box
- Understands what is needed
- Includes staff in the ‘change management’ process
- Participates actively
- Leads people and not the organisation
- Rewards people
- Understands that respect must be earned
- Gets the job done
- Reflects on himself/herself
Envisioning the outstanding leader
Now that their excellent work from Session 1 has been consolidated into the above points, at the next session the hospital management team will be working in groups on the following questions. What would your answers to the same questions be? Please carefully consider each word or phrase above.
Good questions to ask are:
- What do you think the groups really meant by each word or point?
- What examples of each point are you able to personally provide?
- In describing a good leader or being important for a good leader, which of these do you agree with?
- Which of these characteristics do you feel could be omitted?
- Are there points or words that mean the same thing? How would you consolidate this list even further by combining points?
- What words or phrases should be added to the above lists?
- If you were to choose the 20 most important points from above (and only 20!), for describing a good leader in your profession, organisation or other general context what would they be?
- In which areas do you personally need to develop in order to become an outstanding leader?
Once you have completed the questions above, you may wish to have a look at the input from an accounting firm. Please see the article, ‘113: Leading in formation’. You’ll see a marked difference when comparing their input with the consolidated input above.
If you would like more information on leadership development or any of the other services offered by Brenda Eckstein International please visit www.strategy-leadership.com or e-mail brenda@146.66.90.172
