Strategic Media and Development Communications Unit Essential Hallmarks of a Leader Quite a lot has been written about strong leadership and the experiences of those who have made it to the very top of their chosen profession have had several essential qualities that they share. These qualities of leadership are boundless in time, they have served the best leaders well and in them you are prone to recognize why they and not others become the people they become, as first amongst equals or for those versed in Latin, primus inter pares. These essential qualities have served leaders well in times of trials, hardship and crises, when others would run at the contemplation of what may befall them, good leaders have stood steadfast, have faced difficult challenges with candor and when others would seek to retrench, good leaders would recruit. In the context of great leadership, the need to institutionalize in order to perpetuate a great culture is a fundamental attribute. It builds leadership itself as it empowers others to take the lead and carry the mantle of leadership in their own specialist areas of concern. To do this, a good leader has to create a culture of character building so that the nation is tasked to continually learn from its mistakes as well as its plaudits. This attitude to change and learn comes from the leader according an environment where people speak freely, treats all with respect and the leader on his or her own account sets the highest standards combined with recognizing and rewarding talent. Leadership is an honor, a privilege and a deep obligation. When leaders make mistakes, a lot of people can get hurt. Being true to oneself and avoiding self-deception are as important to a leader as having people to turn to for thoughtful, unbiased advice. Leadership is as much about service as it is about being served well. A good leader ought to be mindful of those placed around him so that in as much as he looks to serve his followers well, he himself must benefit from sound advice and excellent service from his close aides and associates. That service should come by exemplary character, steadfastness in upholding the principles and vision of the leader as well as by a thorough and professional outlook in representing the leader to the world at large. Good people want to work for good leaders whilst bad leaders can drive out almost anyone who is good and since many are corrosive to an organization and since many are manipulative and deceptive, it is often a challenge to find them and root them out. In the event, some of the essential hallmarks of a good leader must include but not restricted to discipline, fortitude, high standards, ability to face facts, openness, morale building, loyalty, meritocracy and teamwork. Abraham Lincoln said, “Things may come to those who wait…but only things left by those who hustle.” Leaders must set high standards of performance all the time and must conduct themselves with a sense of urgency, like there is no tomorrow. Strong leaders need to have a fierce resolve to effecting change, fighting bureaucracy in politics and taking ownership and responsibility. A good leader must have and demonstrate his ability to face facts, squarely and deal with issues on a timely and forthright manner. In a cold-blooded, honest way, leaders emphasize the negatives at management meetings and focus on what can be improved (of course, it’s okay to celebrate the successes, too). All reporting must be accurate, and all relevant facts must be reported, with full disclosure. Information must be shared as a strategic and vital function of good leadership – we should debate the issues and not the facts. Equally important is the necessity for leaders to go out to the field so as not to lose touch. Loyalty itself is important but often misused or misguided. Loyalty should be to the principles for which someone stands and to the institution: Loyalty to an individual frequently is another form of cronyism. Leaders demand a lot from their followers and should be loyal to them – but loyalty and mutual respect are two-way streets. Loyalty to the leader does not mean that the followers go blindly without recourse. Loyalty to the followers means that the leader is serious at building a healthy, vibrant nation; telling them the truth; and opening up opportunities for meaningful work, training and career development. Meritocracy and teamwork also are critical but frequently misunderstood. Meritocracy means putting the best person in the job, which promotes a sense of justice rather than the appearance of cynicism: “here they go again, taking care of their friends.” Finally, while teamwork is important and often code for “getting along,” equally important is an individual’s ability to have the courage to stand alone and do the right thing.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:12:06 +0000
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