3 Traits the Best Leaders Share
Throughout my 20 years of advising and supporting executives across a variety of industries, here are 3 common traits that the best leaders share.
These traits set them apart, help them retain talented team members, and set their organizations up for success.
1. CLARITY
Getting clear on your own vision and perspective is essential to great leadership. So much time and energy is wasted when an executive is uncertain or easily swayed by whoever spoke with them last.
You don't need to have all the answers. You don't need to be an expert in everything. Instead, surround yourself with fantastic team members. Listen well to them, your Board, and your community. Take their perspectives into account as you formulate your own.
Then be clear and communicative about your strategy and your decisions so you, your team, and your organization can keep moving forward.
2. COURAGE
Often, the work of executive team members is to handle sticky, political, or challenging situations.
The best leaders have the courage to make decisions that align with their organization values. To refuse gifts from donors who work against the interests of their community or mistreat their staff. To hold "toxic top performers" accountable for their behavior. To say no to unreasonable requests from the Board.
While there are times when a political response is warranted, leaders who choose courage - over appeasement of bad actors or feigned ignorance - gain trust and motivate their teams to excel.
3. COMPASSION
The best leaders are here for the humans. They understand that the cause and community are best served when the people who power our organizations are valued and set up for success.
Humans aren't perfect. Management can be messy. But genuinely caring about people and demonstrating that in how you listen, coach, challenge, and support them is what makes great staff stick around and builds winning teams.
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As you think about your own personal development plans for 2024, how are you working to grow these traits in yourself and your leadership team?
This is one of the ways LaFemina & Co. helps. If you’re ready to focus on your own growth in 2024, let’s set up some time to talk so we can help you find the right support for your needs.