Maybe it’s just me, but it sometimes feels like leadership is very underrated. Most agree that in the military it is important to have great leaders, particularly in wartime. Life or death could be at stake for a company, platoon, or squad. In sports, most of us can recognize great leadership during crunch time, when we watch a team get lead down the field, court, or rink for a late game winning score. Yet, with all of these examples around us, it still sometimes feels as if our CEO’s, owners, and managers don’t always practice the basic fundamentals of leadership. Great leadership is good for morale, helps limit turnover, and creates a better culture within any organization. As I think of good leadership, here are some traits or practices that I believe are a must:

1.     Good leaders, lead from the front. They don’t hide behind policies, programs, or excuses (It’s called setting the example).

2.     Good leaders understand that the organization and the mission are bigger than them.

3.     Good leaders put their team in a position to be successful.

4.     Good leaders give their team or organization the credit when things go well, and they take the bullet, or the blame, when things don’t go so well.

5.     Good leaders surround themselves with great help and support.

6.     Good leaders trust their team, or organization.

7.     Good leaders are loyal to their team, or organization.

8.     Good leaders over-communicate (And listen!).

9.     Good leaders inspire others to want to be, and do, better.

10.  Good leaders take care of the people that work with, and for, them.

As I reflect on the examples of great leaders, most of them have the above qualities at a minimum. Leadership can inspire high performance. It is a trait that can be developed if one has great energy, a great attitude, and a great business coach. If you need help with leadership, or you are looking to train young leaders, set up an appointment with me and let’s talk. Building a High Performance Team starts with great leadership! For more information contact me at my email: mwilliams@thegrowthcoach.com