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Have you ever thought about what makes you an influential leader? I’m always on the hunt for insights and clues to why one leader is able to connect with their team and colleagues while another leader has such a challenging time building relationships. How is one leader able to rally their troops to face an uncertain challenge while another leader is standing on the front lines all by themselves?

I became intrigued with some research from The Center For Creative Leadership that involved interviews with both middle managers and CEO’s. According to their surveys, there are four critical leadership traits: integrity, bravery, perspective and social intelligence. As I read through the study, I began to think about the influential leaders I have worked with and how they live up to these four attributes.

1. Integrity

“Leaders with integrity act with authenticity and honesty by speaking the truth, presenting themselves in a genuine way with sincerity, showing no pretense, and taking responsibility for their own feelings and actions (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).”

I met an extraordinary leader who had a great deal of integrity. She was a new President of a company who recognized there was a great deal of accountability missing from the workplace. She decided to ask her senior team why managers felt little responsibility in making sure deadlines were met and mistakes minimized. She began to hold town meetings for everyone to come and share their thoughts. She asked me to create an accountability workshop to address what accountability looked like and how to help each person feel ownership. She had integrity.

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2. Bravery

“Bravery is defined as acting with valor by not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty, nor pain; speaking up for what is right even when opposition exists; and acting upon conviction despite facing an unpopular environment (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).”

One of the bravest leaders I know is an RN who stepped up to facilitate an HIV support group. She became instrumental in helping these patients overcome the stigma of having HIV and empowered them to think about their futures. Each week she helped them face obstacles, personally and professionally, while keeping them focused on living with the horrible disease.

[Tweet “Being brave by facing pain or difficulty is an essential leadership trait.”]

3. Perspective

“It is important to pay attention and focus on the horizon of business opportunities and challenges.”

I worked with an HR director in a very competitive industry who constantly worried about hiring the right people. To keep up with trends and concerns, he would meet regularly with all levels of management, listening strategically to what type of candidates he should look for. He attended industry conferences and was always open to new possibilities. He consistently challenged the status quo.

4. Social Intelligence

“Social intelligence is the awareness of your and others’ motives and feelings (you have a sense of what makes you and others tick) and having the agility to adapt your behavior to what the situation dictates (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).”

I partnered with a manager who had a difficult time with her team understanding the implications of a global workplace. The differences in time and priorities were creating conflict on her team so she decided to delve deeper. What she learned was that some of her team felt inconvenienced in placing phone calls in the middle of the night. She decided she would be part of those calls so her team would see her dedication too. Her understanding went a far way.

Which of these four traits have you demonstrated in your leadership? Can you share some of your stories?

 

 

 

 

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