All leaders aspire for greatness. To be a leader who inspires and can transform a team of average players into a winning team. But how does a leader know when they’ve crossed the ‘greatness’ threshold? There isn’t any universally accepted rating for the greatness of a leader. Some may base it on how successful the entity they lead is. Yet, there are many examples of great leaders not being consistently successful in delivering the numbers. Besides, numbers can often mislead. For instance, Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Motors excelled at delivering the numbers. Quarter after quarter. Yet, many of his people practices were questionable. And the numbers itself have been questioned. For instance, some argue that GE Capital was “a handy, deep bucket of financial spackle with which to smooth over the cracks in quarterly earnings reports and keep Wall Street happy.”
In the absence of a rating, some leaders base it on the others acknowledgingtheir greatness. That’s an ambiguous metric. People, especially subordinates, often say what you expect them to say. They might find it difficult to give honest feedback to the boss. So, how do you know whether you are a great leader? This article looks at 7 traits of great leaders.
Trait #1: They go beyond numbers
Good leaders set goals linked to sales, revenue and profits. And track performance against those goals. Great leaders take a few steps more. They know that numbers are an outcome of doing the right things. Hence, they focus on helping the team do the right things. They nurture the right behaviours and culture. They help the team sharpen their skills and ensure they have the right tools. That makes for more sustainable growth. And more contented employees.
In his post-retirement years, Welch spoke about an important lesson he realized late in life. That numbers aren’t everything. That people and cultures matter significantly. So, while he bought 200 companies a year to quench the thirst for revenue growth, getting the companies to work together was always a challenge.
Trait #2: They know they don’t know everything
Great leaders know they aren’t omniscient, all-knowing beings. And are aware of gaps in their skill sets. They’re excellent at identifying the right employees to fill in the gaps. And then getting the best out of them. Steve Jobs loved being in control. Despite that, he recruited subject matter experts and gave them a free rein. That includes JonyIve, the designer of the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. And Tim Cook who developed the almost magical supply chain at Apple. In contrast, not-so-great leaders are often unaware of gaps in their capabilities. When they are aware, theirinsecurity often prevents them from getting the best employees to fill in those gaps.
Great leaders realize that the reason they are in charge isn’t because they are the smartest. Nor is it because they know more about the business than anyone else. Instead, they realize that collective IQ is always greater than individual IQ. And no matter how smart any one person is, considered decisions by the collective are normally better.
Trait #3: They don’t micromanage
In the military, micro management is often necessary. In the workplace, not so much. Whenever a leader spends too much time in the ‘how to do things’, s/he runs the risk of micromanaging. Great leaders set targets. They tell employees why they need to do something. And they make sure the right ‘tools’ are available to do the job. Once all that is in place, they get out of the way. And let the employee deliver. Steve Jobs put it well when he said, “It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do”.
Trait #4: …. or under-manage
Under-management is the flip side of micromanagement. It’s as big an issue and it’s as common. Sometimes in the same leader. As the name suggests, under-management means too little managing. Where a leader stays away from challenging employees due to fear of conflict. Or performance metrics are loosely defined as is performance evaluation. Great leaders don’t under-manage. Employees need to be trained. They need to be given guidance when they seek it. They need to be given the right tools to do their job. There’s a lot of difference between delegation and abdication.
Trait #5: They aren’t feared (too much!)
As Dwight Eisenhower said, “You do not lead by hitting people over the head -- that's assault, not leadership”. Great leaders get listened to not because of fear, but because employees perceive them as fair. And because they respect them.
Trait #6: They speak straight
Great leaders give you bad news when there’s bad news. And good news when there’s good news. They are straight in their communication. Bear in mind that ‘straight-speak’ isn’t the same as demeaning or worse, screaming at someone. It's when you speak your mind while continuing to care for the employee. And at the same time wanting to influence change.
Trait #7: They create more leaders
Great leaders create more leaders. They keep learning and ensure that the team below keeps learning. They identify skill or attitude gaps in team members and help them fill those gaps. Creating more leaders is the only way the organization can run smoothly with increased size and scope. That said, great leaders aren’t afraid of letting people go. Besides helping the organization, they know it will help the employee in the longer run.
Closing thoughts
Don’t chase greatness for the sake of it. Like respect, greatness is earned, not demanded. So, don’t think of being a great leader as a goal. Certain traits are commonly found in leaders. Many traits are unique. So, don't try to ape other leaders and lose your uniqueness. Every leader has their own style.
Also remember that greatness, like everything, is relative. Some say Steve Jobs was the greatest leader ever. Others say he was a demeaning creep, stole others’ ideas and often behaved like a spoilt kid. You’re never going to be able to please everyone. And in any case, leadership isn’t a popularity contest.
Quincy Adams, the sixth US President put it nicely “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” If you manage to do that consistently, you are well on your way to greatness.