Great Leaders Do 6 Things - At Work, Home, and School

Originally written in June 2013

GREAT LEADERS DO SIX THINGS — At Work, Home, and School

More than 12,000 books exist on leadership. In a lifetime we couldn’t read all of them.  So what is important?  If we want to lead and improve it, what can we do?

The strategic thinking of great leaders can be simply stated. Leaders possess these traits. In 20 years of consulting and leadership development and coaching, I can test executives or managers in any system to these six.

L = Learners. 

They are passionate and even obsessed with continually learning.  Whether it is asking hundreds of questions a day to people in every walk of life they meet or reading books  and magazines (not in their industry) and taking classes, they are a sponge for new information.  They see how all the pieces in life interacts. They ask questions and Listen.

E= Engage

Leaders engage with people and create the forum for people to engage in two-way conversations. They relish in people sharing ideas and contributing.

A = Aim

Leaders communication a Compelling purpose, a direction. They ask, “what are we trying to accomplish together?” and keep people focused.

D = Different

Leaders think different. They don’t get stuck on obstacles and barriers.  They see possibilities, opportunities, new markets and contributions for a better society. They are decisive and not afraid to take risks, fail and learn, and keep progressing. They Drive out fear and build trust around them: it is safe to discover and explore and create.

E = Environment

They create an environment where everyone is self-motivated.  Time is not wasted trying to motivate other people. The power exists when people love to contribute and have joy in their work.

R = Reflect

All great leaders reflect.  They make time to think, ponder, ask what’s working and not working, what can be so different that it can innovate our lives? Because learning takes place in reflection, leaders experience results much faster.

Assess yourself.  Do have the 6 methods to be a Great Leader?