The 20 Fundamental Attributes of Great Leaders

“Everything rises and falls on leadership” John Maxwell.

Leadership is the difference maker in all things. We’ve all seen situations where a team has repeatedly failed, only to rise to new heights under a different leader. All one must do is look to examples from all industries to see that this is as true as the laws of physics.

The easy example in the NFL is the leadership team of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots from 2000 through 2019. However, another wonderful example is that of the San Francisco 49ers. Bill Walsh was named head coach of the 49ers on January 9, 1979. Up to that point the 49ers were quickly at risk of becoming the doormat of the NFL, having gone 5-9 in 1977, 2-14 in 1978, and 2-14 in 1979, Walsh’s first year as head coach. Under Walsh the 49ers went on to win six divisional titles, three NFC Championships, and three Superbowl Championships. Leadership matters in sports.

In business all one must do is look to Apple for a great example. While Apple may be one of those “Captain Obvious” examples, the example is important because it represents the growth of a leader and the impact that leader’s growth had on the business he founded. Steve Jobs was not such a wonderful leader in his first go round with Apple. However, he reflected and grew into a great leader. This was done by embracing most, not all, of the characteristics outlined below. I think it is safe to say that had he not stepped back and worked at improving himself as a leader, Apple would not be the company it is today, and we may not have the technological advancements we enjoy in our everyday life. Leadership matters in business.

As we look to the attributes of great leaders from the past and present, many would agree that most, if not all, possess a set of core characteristics that became the foundation they built their greatness upon.

1. Safety

Safe environments are both mental and physical. People are many times intimidated by titles and positions of power and authority. Therefore, it is extremely important that leaders actively focus on developing a safe environment for all. This means encouraging those they are charged with leading to speak up and voice their ideas, opinions, and concerns. Great leaders spend time developing well-designed feedback loops that foster open and transparent communication. The intent is to develop a safe environment where everyone can flourish as they strive to work together to achieve a shared vision for the organization. Great leaders understand that success is only achieved through great decision-making. They also know that great decision-making is only possible by first soliciting information from all corners and layers of the organization. If people do not feel safe offering their thoughts, opinions and ideas, a leader will never fully achieve this goal.

2. Decisiveness + Perception

Great leaders make decisions, and they make the right decision more times than not. They understand that success is only achieved through great decision-making. However, if a leader does not first create an environment where people feel safe offering their thoughts, opinions and ideas, a leader will never fully achieve this goal. Therefore, safety started off the list. Great leaders know that their perception can influence decision making. Hence the need to have a clear understanding. Left to themselves, they know that their perception could mislead and lead to a poor decision. Therefore, they create a culture that values dialogue and open communication. They empower their teams to reach strategic conclusions by encouraging them to participate in strategic discussions. Great leaders also know when they have enough information and feedback to decide. They do not waste time beating a dead horse. They gather and go. Then, move on to the next decision, quickly.

3. Communication

Communication is the lifeline that runs through every organization. Great leaders know how to communicate up and down the chain of command. They are very clear about expectations, candid in how they share feedback, and effective expectation managers. They talk purpose, values, vision, and mission regularly, never allowing anyone to forget why they do what they do. They tell stories to support the internalization of the organization’s values and beliefs. By doing so, they take away any questions about the strategic direction of the organization, its purpose and values, and the expectations for performance. Great leaders reinforce the standards every day.

4. Stretch

Great leaders know that they will never arrive. They understand that the greatest are always learning, growing, and striving to become better and achieve more. They know the only path to achieving the organization’s strategic initiatives is through great people committed to giving their all and doing better than their best. As such, they challenge their teams to think and grow. They hold their teams accountable for learning and continually developing their knowledge, skillset, and capabilities. Great leaders stretch their teams by challenging them to think and push beyond their current level of comfort.

5. Ownership

Great leaders are harder on themselves than anyone else could ever be. They hold themselves accountable for achieving results and take full responsibility for the performance of their team. They are not only accountable to self, but they are accountable to others. They are openminded and solicit feedback from their teams and those they report to. They listen, reflect, and adjust according to the information they receive. By doing so, they demonstrate what it is to be a true professional. This also helps make candor in the workplace an accepted cultural norm. If the one pushing for greatness is also the one that lives and breathes accountability for results, the feedback becomes a much easier pill to swallow. This is also true if they are the one owning their team’s performance and looking to themselves when things do not go as planned.

6. Model

Great leaders are models of the behaviors and expectations they have for their teams. They do what they expect others to do. They show up to meetings on time. They run efficient and effective meetings. They live the values of the organization and hold their people accountable for the same. They practice what they preach and are forever mindful of how their actions and behaviors influence the team and impact the organization’s culture. They know that if they step outside the lines, it will give license to others to do the same. Therefore, they are very cognizant of the impact of their every move.

7. Recognize & Reward

Great leaders recognize and reward those who do great work. They lift their top performers and are sure to give them the fuel they need in the way they need it to rise even higher. They know who needs a pat on the back, quiet acknowledgement, or community recognition. They tailor each team member’s reward or recognition to what motivates them and what they value. They do not employ the “Golden Rule”, rather they deploy the “Platinum Rule”, treating their team members as they wish to be treated. Great leaders do not make the mistake of recognizing or rewarding subpar performance. They know a rising tide lifts all boats, so they develop a tidal wave of recognizing top performance.

8. Talent Acquisition and Deployment

Great leaders employ great people. They know as well as anyone that their success and the success of the organization lies in the hands of those they choose to be on their teams. Therefore, they find people who can offset their team’s weaknesses and push the team to another level. They know a bad hire can set a team back and take months if not years to overcome. As such, they only hire when they are certain they have the right person. Otherwise, they wait. They know it is better to be patient, even when the work is overwhelming, than to make a poor hiring decision.

10. Mentorship

Great leaders seek mentorship from those who have been there and done this before. They look outside their industry and their area of specialty for leaders who can offer them insight into excellence at all levels. They ask questions and seek counsel from all corners of the globe. Great leaders are learners and possess an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. They are constantly stretching themselves to learn new things and humbling themselves by being vulnerable with their trusted mentors.

11. Courageous Action

Great leaders are courageous and act with authority and confidence. They address issues head-on. They do not avoid the inevitable. The get to the heart of a matter, address it, and move on. They do not admire problems. They view procrastination as detrimental to progress. Therefore, they know that they and their teams must be proficient at problem solving. This also means that their teams must become comfortable dealing with difficult situations. They know that in most cases the obstacle is the way.

12. Energy + Attitude

Great leaders know that their energy and attitude will set the tone for their teams. If they are up and optimistic, so will their team be. They also know that an inconsistent personality creates tension within the team. Therefore, they are the same person every day. The team knows who is walking through the door each morning. There is no guessing as to who they will get today. It’s the same person as yesterday and the day before. Great leaders create, encourage, and enforce a positive and inspiring workplace culture. They bring positive energy and a can-do attitude that motivates their team to act.

13. Educator

Great leaders know that they must teach their teams how to win. They understand that most people do not know what it is to achieve greatness. Therefore, they know that they must be continually coaching, mentoring, and teaching. They touch base with their team members regularly, if not weekly, to reflect on successes, discuss performance, talk strategic initiatives, and look at opportunities for improvement. By doing so, they keep their team members well-informed and knowledgeable about those things that are of utmost importance to the organization’s success.

14. Circle of Influence

Great leaders surround themselves with great people. As we discussed, they seek mentors and great people for their teams. However, they also tightly control their circle of influence. They surround themselves, personally and professionally, with people who will influence and challenge them to become better people and leaders. They rid themselves of negative influences. They will not allow themselves to be brought down by those whom they interact with on a regular basis. They know that those they surround themselves with will determine the height of their ceiling. They also know that they will only be as strong as the weakest link in the chain. Therefore, they are very selective about who they choose to let into their world.

15. Believer

Great leaders are believers in themselves, their cause, and their people. They know deep inside that they can achieve great things once they set their mind to it and surround themselves with the right people. They have faith in their ability. They know that their energy and attitude will influence the world around them to rise to the level of performance needed to achieve great things. They exude confidence yet do so very humbly. They accept failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, not as a barrier to success. They understand that failure is the key to achieving great things. Therefore, they view hurdles much as Marcus Aurelius did, believing that the “Impediment to action advances action”. Impediments do not stop progress.

16. Disciplined

Great leaders are extremely disciplined. They are masters of their minds, control their desires, and have developed habits that will support their quest for greatness. They know that every decision matters. They know that every little thing matters. They know that their mind will quit before their body. Therefore, they stay the course, do not give in to behaviors or actions that will lead them away from their goal or take them down a path that could be cause for the creation of a new, less desirable habit. They get up early, whether they want to or not. They workout, whether they feel like it or not. They read, whether they think they have time or not, because they know that great leaders are readers. They madidate, whether they’re in the right frame of mind or not, because they know that medication is key to a disciplined life.

17. Will

Great leaders have the will to endure. They know that this too shall pass. They also know that today’s results, like them or not, are lagging indicators of yesterday’s actions and behaviors. They stay the course and persevere. They do not allow little setbacks to stall progress or stymie motivation. As Winston Churchill stated, acted upon, and firmly believed, “This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large, or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” In sum, great leaders never quit.

18. Thoughtful

Great leaders spend time reflecting and thinking. They contemplate issues, internalize situations, work to understand divergent perspectives, and seek to find what they may be missing. Great leaders know that if they do not spend time in quiet and deep thought, it is quite possible that no one will. They understand the importance of strategy and the reality that nothing stays the same, is as it seems, nor is as we envision it to be. They also know, as Albert Einstein is credited with so eloquently stating, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” The only way to move out of that realm is to spend quiet time in deep thought.

19. Present

Great leaders are present. They listen, engage, communicate, and acknowledge others. They free themselves from distraction when in the presence of another. This is not to say that they are not efficient with the use of their time. They do not spend time engaging in small talk. When they are in a meeting with their team or giving their time to be involved in a conversation, they are focused and attentive to the person or people in front of them. Their presence is also felt when they are at the office or in social settings. In any space they preside, they are there, acknowledging and engaging whoever shares the space with them.

20. Planned

Great leaders embrace the idea that one hour planning can save ten hours of work. This is because planning affords the opportunity to align the team and identify opportunities and issues prior to engaging in an initiative. They know that a well-planned organization is critical to success. However, they also understand that a plan is only as good as the process used to bring it together, the commitment of the team, and the execution that brings it to life. Great leaders know where they are headed, have mapped the path for getting there, bring the team with them, and hold everyone accountable for making the vision reality.

As you can surmise from the above, great leaders do not act the part. They are the part. They are the part of the puzzle that will ultimately determine the difference between average, good or great. They do not feel the need to be cool. They are cool, especially under pressure and it shows in their daily behavior. They do not make the mistake of making comments that make others feel uncomfortable or unsafe. They lead by example and model what is expected every moment of the day. They hold themselves to a standard that exceeds the level they hold others to. Great leaders are great not by accident, but because they work at it, much like Jobs and Walsh did when they led their organizations to become great.

If you want to be or continue to be a great leader, at a minimum you must first know where you stand when compared to the 20 points above. While the leadership 20 are not the only factors that determine greatness, they are a great starting point. Consider them a table stake. Master those and you will be on your way to figuring out the other, less tangible areas, that you can develop to become the leader you want and need to be. Leadership matters in business, it matters in sports, but it matters most in life. By becoming a great leader in your professional life, you will find that you are a much better leader in your personal life. One is not disconnected from the other. A great life is purposefully developed. We must design our life at work and home. Remember, “Life without design is erratic” (Seneca).

Randy Stepp is a principal with Renaissance Leadership Group. RLG is a full-service business development company driven by Purpose, Passion, and Strategy and the goal of helping entrepreneurs realize their vision for their business.

Visit Renaissance Leadership Group at www.renaissanceleadershipgroup.com to learn more.