Embracing the Qualities of an Exceptional Leader

“Leadership is not about personality; it's about behavior.” - Kouzes & Posner

Exceptional Leaders take the Leadership Mindset and put it into practice. By their actions, they demonstrate an unwavering commitment to relationships and a relentless focus on results.

Several researchers have identified the key personal qualities that Exceptional Leaders display which enable them to lead others and achieve success. Three of the best studies into leadership are summarized below.

After five years of effort with 21 research associates, Jim Collins identified two key qualities that enabled the best leaders to take their companies from Good to Great.  His group discovered that these “Level 5 Executives” possessed a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.  Their “Personal Humility” committed them to developing positive relationships with their employees and their “Professional Will” gave them the drive and persistence to achieve outstanding results.

The Five Practices and Ten Commitments of Leadership

From The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes & Posner

In addition to the research of Jim Collins, another 25-year cross cultural research project by Kouzes & Posner viewed leaders from a slightly different perspective.  They focused on “how leaders mobilize others to want to get extraordinary things done.”  They listed the Five Practices and Ten Commitments of Leadership.

Credibility - the Foundation of Leadership

From Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It by Kouzes & Posner

In another survey of over 75,000 people around the world over 25 years, employees were asked to select the qualities that they “most look for and admire in a leader, someone whose direction they would willingly follow.” The key words in the survey was “willingly follow.” 

Surprisingly, the results were consistent over time and cross-culturally. The four characteristics that the majority listed were:

1. Honest
2. Forward-looking
3. Inspiring
4. Competent

CREDIBILITY - The four characteristics

 1. Honest

• These leaders have honesty, integrity and character – If people don’t believe in the messenger, they won’t believe in the message
• Leaders “walk the talk”.  People don’t trust leaders who can’t or won’t disclose a clear set of values, ethics, and standards and live by them.

 2. Competent

• Leadership competence – have the ability to get things done
• People see these leaders as having relevant experience and sound judgment

 3. Forward-looking

• Clarity of vision is essential
• People expect their leaders to have a sense of direction and a concern for the future of the organization

 4. Inspiring

• These leaders are able to communicate the vision in ways that encourage people to sign on for the duration and excite them about the cause
• They expect their leaders to be enthusiastic, energetic, and positive about the future.

We build a credible foundation of leadership in our practice when we have character and competence while communicating a clear direction for the future.