Foundations of the Leader

Being a leader is not a self appointed role. It is achieved through gaining the respect of others and that unspoken appointment needs to be maintained.

Because of this you have to check daily, that you continue to portray and more importantly exercise the traits which uphold your position.

Let me go through some of the key traits you need to display to your organisation.

Appearance 

I'm not just talking about how smart you look (although sartorial image is important also) but looking like the leader. For example don't walk into a room and just merge with the wallpaper. Make the effort to be acknowledging the people in the room even before you enter it. You don't want to be seen as someone changing their reaction; you want to create the image from the first glimpse anyone gets of you.

As you engage, be attentive and responsive to what people are saying. Don't look distratcted or disinterested or it will be obvious and not just to the person you are engaging with!

Presence

Whether in a room being presented to or more common nowadays, on a  video conference , you have to be present. That does not mean always taking over the meeting but the fact you are there means people will want you to respond to the discussion. It's also an opportunity to be motivational and guiding!

Can you imagine how someone would feel presenting to their senior executive and get little or no reaction? That can reflect as the leader being disinterested, aloof or not understanding of the content being presented. None of which are particularly reflective of the image you want.

Guiding

Leadership is about visibility and it's crucial that you have a constant drumbeat of communication to your people. Let them know your thoughts, priorities and give every opportunity for them to engage. Great leaders will have regular town-halls, webinars, newsletters or videos going out to their organisation. At times of crisis and change they will be there outlining the response, the need and providing clarity on direction. This would be the worst time for any organisation to appear leaderless.

In these behaviours you should also recognise the commitment of your people and offer guidance on where you need them to reinforce positive behaviours. If you take them with you, then whatever it is you're doing the greater the cooperation.

Innovative

Leaders should be visionary. They need to be out there challenging current environments, exploiting strengths to win and developing and eradicating weakness. A leader constantly analyses the environment they're in , with the aim of influencing progress through thinking differently, keeping ahead of the competition and inspiring your people. Of course you can't be expected to have all the ideas but you are expected to listen to all the innovative ideas from your people and propel these into reality where they can make a difference!

Courageous

Remember people look to you as the strong individual, effectively entrusting you with their future. They are not going to back someone who is weak and afraid to make key decisions for the greater good and to follow these through. To make a decision which is transformative and impacting takes courage and that needs to be exercised. You cannot be seen to back away from monumental decisions.

Analytical

Business leaders should not be expected to get into granular detail. They should however ensure they have the structure around them which produces rich data, analyses it and ensures the salient points are presented to the leader in order to inform decisons. This being said it is important for the leader to challenge the data and where necessary drill into the detail to ensure that they are making the correct decisions on the basis of fact. 

Strategic

If you're expected to be taking people and an organisation forward then it's a foregone conclusion that you are strategic in your outlook and mindset. Someone who has the breadth to manage the as-is to optimum effect while looking at how that operation will be as strong in the years to come. This requires performance analysis, emerging trends and possibly instinct . It also means having possibly one the greatest inspirational skills a leader needs  ...

Visionary

Leaders have driven change and influenced for centuries. They have a different outlook, to them it is the art of the possible. To look at present environments and to transform them to meet the needs of what is emerging both within , on the perimeter of and further outside their direct environment. They plan carefully to catch and blend as many of the dynamics in play that they can directly influence, to create something which will build to exert wider influences on areas perhaps not under their control.

This is the mark of the leader. To have transprent boundaries and to be breaking through them to the rewards that lie beyond. What more rewarding than to do this and turn to the side to see those you led in that previous dimension to still be at your side waiting your further direction.

That is the true reflection of leadership !!