Written by: Dianne McKim, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
It has been proven again and again, that great leaders demonstrate qualities in their personal and professional lives that set them on a course for greatness while they inspire others. They practice certain behaviors regularly that strengthen the impact these qualities have.
Let’s take a brief quiz to see if you can identify great leadership qualities. (No cheating - Answers at the bottom)
1. Effective leaders
A. Focus on what other leaders are doing
B. Give more attention to their career than to others
C. Pay attention to their emotional intelligence
2. Focusing on developing others is a key quality of an effective leader.
A. True
B. False
3. Telling their subordinates what to do will get them to focus on the leader's priorities.
A. True
B. False
4. Respected leaders
A. Listen deeply
B. Communicate clearly with individuals and business units
C. Consider the ethical consequences of their decisions
D. All of the above
5. A core responsibility of a great leader is
A. Delegating
B. Going over every detail of a project
C. Following all the rules
D. Taking lots of risks
If you have had a great leader at work, consider yourself truly blessed! Sadly, too many people are put into leadership positions without having the best or maybe having no training or development for their leadership skills. This is a tragedy and everyone suffers for it.
Organizations that invest in their employee development will discover those who are natural leaders as well as those who can learn to become great leaders. These discoveries are so much better than just moving someone into a leadership role because others like them or because they have hit some sort of quota or goal.
While being liked and hitting goals are important for leaders, these on their own are not enough.
Ok, here are the answers to the brief quiz:
1. C
2. True
3. False
4. D
5. A
How did you do?
In addition to what the quiz reveals, other core qualities of effective and great leaders include integrity, self-confidence, good decision-making, and problem-solving skills, self-motivation, humility, care for others, self-discipline, resilience, accountability, and a natural curiosity.
While this is not an exhaustive list, with these qualities, leaders will lead, inspire and contribute to the good of the organization as well as to the good of others. Employees will have greater trust in their leaders and will be much more inclined toward loyalty, greater efficiency, and productivity.
If you want to discover if you are or can be a great leader or if your employees are ready to step into leadership, reach out and let’s work together to uncover the leadership potential in and around you. https://www.preciousstonescoaching.com/special-services
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Dianne McKim, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
A Certified Career, Leadership, and Life Coach, Workshop Facilitator, Author, Speaker and Guest Interviewee, Dianne McKim has the professional training, personal experiences and knowledge to help clients successfully grow and thrive.
Dianne enjoyed a long and impactful career in Corporate America successfully leading teams, influencing peers, mentoring team members, and interacting at all corporate levels (including C Levels). During that time she developed strong relationships with executives, management, peers, and team members allowing her to successfully spearhead major projects while negotiating, and navigating bureaucracy.
This wasn't always the way, however. Dianne is an abusive relationship survivor, navigated through a long and difficult divorce which resulted in her running a household, working full time the whole time, and raising children as a single mom for 14 years. She dealt with family issues, job losses and job searches, loss of relationships, a lack of confidence and very low self-esteem.
Over time, Dianne rebuilt her life, rediscovering herself and strengthening her confidence. As she did, she learned how to stand strong in her abilities, understand her value and embrace her identity. As her confidence grew, she discovered how to have professional success, personal contentment, and spiritual fulfillment.
Dianne has taken all that she learned along with her unparalleled ability and deep care and compassion for others and began Precious Stones Coaching. Her coaching style is inviting, understanding, and encouraging with just the right amount of leadership, guidance, and accountability to help her clients focus on their priorities and accomplish their goals. Dianne wholeheartedly commits to helping her clients achieve and fulfill their calling, purpose, and destiny.
