Marjorie Brody, MA, CSP, CMC

Lee Iaccocca. Golda Meier. Jack Welsh. Three effective leaders. All possessed or possess similar traits that made them effective leaders.

Contrary to popular beliefs, leaders aren’t born – leadership skills can be learned.

Leadership Traits

Effective leaders possess seven attributes. They …

promote a vision

True leaders are visionaries. They can persuade and convince others that their cause is just and worth working for. An effective leader conveys a vision – whether it’s to revolutionize a new way of printing, hitting a certain sales mark, or going global. A leader communicates his or her vision first by defining reality – a message that boils down to “where we’ve been” and “where we are.” Then comes the challenge of vividly describing a new reality: “where we must go.”

make others feel important

“Those you have followed passionately, gladly, zealously – have made you feel like somebody.” – Irwin Federman, former president and CEO of Monolithic Memories

Self-centered people do not draw a crowd. No one wants to work with or for someone who is only interested in self-acclaim. Make sure that your colleagues and others you interact with receive the praise they deserve. Notice their accomplishments and emphasize their strengths and contributions – not just your own activities.

follow the “platinum rule”

It may be as old as time, but this axiom is definitely true for leaders. Treat your followers the way they want to be treated. Abusive leaders attract few supporters.

admit mistakes

There is nothing bad about admitting a mistake or error. True leaders have no problem recognizing they were to blame or wrong. If others believe you are hiding mistakes, they are likely to do the same.

criticize others only in private

It can only embarrass, demean and alienate workers to criticize in a public forum something they have done or said. Public praise is good, but if someone needs to receive feedback that will be negative, the effective leader makes sure this is done one-on-one – with no one else around.

stay close to the action

Leaders don’t hide. They are active members of their society and business world. They belong to trade groups and associations. They have a vocal presence in their respective industries. Leaders never rest on their laurels. They are always trying to meet new people, learn new things and gain new insights.

celebrate success

There’s no denying that competition exists – business is more competitive now than ever before. A leader turns this around into a game of sorts -- setting team goals, and rewarding those who meet or beat them. Leaders examine shortcomings and celebrate accomplishments. Big visions and ambitious goals mean there is always more to be done, higher ground to be reached. However, focusing only on what is yet to be accomplished can ironically lessen the likelihood of success. An effective leader knows that progress must be celebrated if high morale and commitment is to be maintained.

make trust a priority

Downsizing and re-organizing have done much to make American businesses the most competitive in the world. Unfortunately, these practices have also weakened employee loyalty and, in many cases, generated a great deal of cynicism. Only a highly trusted leader is going to generate support for a new vision. This means being candid, truthful and consistent. It means being authentic and reachable when others are more concerned about maintaining an image.

An Effective Leader Also …

1) Remembers that details aren’t as important as the bottom line results.
The end result is more important than every bit of minutia that led up to it.

2) Recognizes workers’ skills, strengths and weaknesses.
Know your employees and what they are capable of. Don’t assign a task that you know someone can’t accomplish.

3) Sets firm but realistic deadlines.
If your staff doesn’t have a deadline to shoot for, urgent matters will consistently postpone work with long-term importance. Use deadlines to manage priorities.

4) Resists the temptation to solve all employee problems.
As much as you want to, don’t try to be everyone’s hero or heroine. If someone has a problem, don’t jump to solve. Instead, help him or her work out what went wrong and how to fix it. To further build self-sufficiency, invest in training on subjects such as conflict resolution and time management. This will cost time and money, but in the end, the company will benefit from a more able workforce.

5) Knows how to make staff questions become answers.
If someone asks you for your advice in resolving a problem, ask him or her for an opinion on how to address the situation. If there are questions, ask for possible answers.

6) Sets clearly defined missions to accomplish.
All employees should be given well-defined tasks. This will allow more autonomy in the decision-making process. If they know what they’re supposed to accomplish, it’s much easier for them to make quick decisions if something arises.

7) Stays in touch with people, and is committed to delegating and empowering them -- but not prone to walk away.

Know How & When To Delegate

An effective leader delegates. Your team shouldn’t be running around disorganized. Team members need to take responsibility for their activities and project completion. They shouldn’t be running to their direct supervisors and bosses at the slightest problem or with a million questions.

Before you can start delegating, however, you need to have the right people on your team. Only people who can work independently and responsibly can accept delegation. The effective leader then needs to recognize each person’s skills and interests, and be realistic about the time it will take to learn certain tasks. Don’t step in to finish a task because the worker may be having a hard time with it.

Start delegating low priority projects first before dumping critical client-saving ventures on your staff. Make sure you fully explain the nature of the assignment in terms they can understand. When workers understand how their work fits into the overall flow of business, they are more likely to have an informed reaction if something happens or the leader is not around to oversee the project. The smart leader also arranges for any training necessary to keep his or her employees up to date and have the information to succeed.

Problems with delegation arise when too many people are given the same list of duties. Involving too many workers can create chaos. And perhaps the most important thing to remember – always praise your team members for a job well done when they’ve earned this right.

It’s important to distinguish leadership from management. Someone can be a competent manager but not a good leader, as well as the other way around.

Learning how to become an effective leader doesn’t have to be difficult. Just take a step back from thinking about your personal gain and remember the people around you. Once you look at the whole picture effective leadership and success will be just around the corner.

Article copyright 2001 Marjorie Brody and Brody Communications Ltd. Marjorie Brody, MA, CSP, CMC, is an internationally recognized expert and motivational speaker on career enhancement and corporate etiquette who connects people to potential. She has dedicated herself to the art of effective communication and to helping individuals recognize the power they have within for unlimited success. Marjorie has appeared on CNBC several times, Fox-TV, Oxygen Network, and been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, People, Glamour, BusinessWeek, Fortune and many other national publications. She is author of 16 books, including Speaking is an Audience-Centered Sport, and Professional Impressions … Etiquette for Everyone, Every Day. Marjorie can be reached via e-mail at mbrody@BrodyCommunications.com or visit her web sites at www.BrodyCommunications.com or www.MarjorieBrody.com.