The DNA of My Leadership Heroes

I’ve worked with some amazing leaders. Some I reported to, others I collaborated with and others I watched from afar. There are seven people represented below. These are the characteristics of theirs which I admire:

1. She is genuine.
2. She trusts her team to make decisions.
3. Under fire, she is calm.
4. He is flexible.
5. They are confident.
6. She’s crafty.
7. He knows how to stretch his team without overwhelming them.
8. He is fair. All employees are equal as far as his actions go.
9. She’s a great presenter. If she says it, you’ll believe it.
10. He cares about his team members’ professional development.
11. He never lets himself get comfortable, and by default, he never lets his team get comfortable.
12. Even when she doesn’t agree, she’s graceful.
13. She shows a personal interest in the people she works with. If you’re sick at home, you can count on a visit.
14. She pays attention to the details. All of them.
15. He knows how to build consensus. Before it’s all said and done everyone thinks the plan is their idea – and it is.
16. He uses competition to motivate the team.
17. She believes in keeping everyone informed about what her team is doing.
18. Her laugh comes easily.
19. They are consistent.
20. He embraces the unique personalities of each team member.
21. They protect their teams.
22. And this I can say of every single person who has ever hired me, from age 16 to now: They gave me a chance.

 I put this list together as a road map for and reminder of the type of leader I aim to be.

What’s the DNA of your leadership heroes?

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