Leadership Qualities

 

This got me thinking

What if leaders actually took to heart these two passages posted today on Sojourners?

Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. - Daniel 12:3

The minute a person whose word means a great deal to others dares to take the open-hearted and courageous way, many others follow. - Marian Anderson, My Lord, What a Morning: An Autobiography (1956) The first thing, leaders can be developed. The second thing, leaders adapt and evolve. The third thing, leaders do not lead from the top down. Check out this blog from Northeastern University, The 5 Qualities All Successful Leaders Have in Common by Brian Eastwood. He came up with the following qualities. 1. They are self-aware and prioritize personal development. Effective leaders focus on developing their emotional intelligence, Goode says. Leaders that work to refine this quality are more adaptive, resilient, and accepting of feedback from others. They are also effective listeners and open to change. 2. They focus on developing others. This leadership quality builds on the principles of the situational leadership theory, which suggests that effective leaders adapt to whether an individual or group is ready, willing, and able to take specific action. Delegating, coaching, and mentoring are important tasks for situational leadership. 3. They encourage strategic thinking, innovation, and action. “As a leader, you have to look forward. You have to think about where the organization is going,” Goode says. Leaders must consider internal organizational factors, such as product roadmaps and staffing needs, as well as external factors, including government regulations and technology advancement, when making strategic business decisions. 4. They are ethical and civic-minded. Strong leaders consider the ethical consequences of the decisions that they make—for both their customers and their teams. 5. They practice effective cross-cultural communication. Respected leaders are able to clearly communicate with individuals, business units, the entire company, and to stakeholders outside the organization. In an increasingly global economy, leaders must also acknowledge and respect different communication traditions.