Independence Day got me thinking about the meaning of the word independence, which led me to wonder if I could come up with a strong, positive leadership trait for each letter of the alphabet.  Here is my unscientific, yet empirical, list of qualities consistently demonstrated by leaders I admire:

Adaptability, Agility – In a world rife with change and unpredictability, knowing when it is time to flex and when it is time to stay firm is a critical leadership skill as is the ability to reinvent, renew and change with the times.

Boldness – The timid, fearful leader is a contradiction in terms.  People follow those who have the courage to think differently from the crowd, to say what they think and who are ready to take risks and action.

Communication skills – These are more important than analytical or technical skills when you want to influence or engage others.  This comes as a surprise to many who have been promoted because of their professional expertise and then wonder why no one follows them.

Decisiveness – Gathering data and weighing alternatives are important responsibilities of leadership, but analysis paralysis and woolly consensus seeking are excuses for inaction.  A leader needs to know when to seek input and when to make a decision so the organization can move forward.

Equilibrium – In today’s 24/7 world, it is difficult to achieve any kind of balance, but this quality is key for leadership.  Not only is a balanced human being more likely to lead a sustainable organization, but his or her style also needs to harmonize different elements in order to be effective to diverse constituencies.

Fairness – This quality is related to the previous one.  If all stakeholders feel they are fairly treated, the problems of disengagement, demotivation and defection are likely to be curtailed or, at least, contained.  A leader known for fairness gains trust and respect which directly translates to positive business relationships and results.

Generosity – Paying top dollar is not the only way leaders can demonstrate generosity.  By simply noticing people and acknowledging effort or performance in a timely manner, leaders can create a culture of high motivation and engagement and ultimately save money through lower employee turnover and greater staff and customer satisfaction.

Health, Humor and Humanity – Keeping things in perspective and never taking oneself too seriously saves the leader from the hubristic fall from grace that we see all too often.   When leaders lose this sense of perspective, they drive themselves and others to burn out and to loss of productivity.

Independence, Integrity – In addition to an independent mind that is not swayed by group-think, a leader needs to exude integrity from every fiber of his or her being.  Without this core quality, he or she will never build the trust essential for the position to have any worth.  To me, integrity means keeping promises, behaving in an ethical way and bringing about wholeness where divisiveness seeks to reign.

Judgment – Sound judgment about people and business issues is an essential requirement for leaders because their decisions affect the careers, lives and investments of all stakeholders.  Bad judgments dearly cost everyone.

Kaizen – Leaders who follow the Japanese practice of continuous improvement model the ability to learn and change. This enables their organizations and their people to develop and grow.

Loyalty – Leaders whose world view is based on relationships create a qualitatively different environment from those who are more transaction oriented and who view people as dispensable cogs in a wheel.  By showing loyalty, these leaders earn it, and it brings long-term benefits as opposed to short-term gain.

Maturity – This has more to do with an approach to leadership than to chronological age.  In a four-generation workplace, those leaders who have the maturity to seek the best from all employees will be the ones who outsmart their competitors and build organizations that last.

Novelty – Leaders who embrace new approaches and encourage novel ways of seeing issues and performing tasks have uncovered the deepest secret of innovation: it is a mindset even more than a set of techniques or product features.

Openness – Being willing to listen to different points of view, to seek out new ideas, to express their vision and the reasons for their decisions are all examples of welcome openness in leaders.

Persistence, Passion –  The leader who can consistently keep the focus on “the main thing”, who cares about what is really at stake and who can inspire people to want to be responsible for building and growing something instead of sniping at the competition or at one another is a leader worth following.

Questioning – The wise leader questions received “truths” and holds a healthy skepticism unless there is evidence.  Asking questions is an effective management technique; it is especially effective if the questions are used to elicit thinking and problem solving.  If questions are used to direct and tell people what to do, then they will likey prove disempowering and demotivating.

Resilience – This is the ability to bounce back after reversals, to stabilize through change and to formulate a clear path through chaos and confusion.

Social and Emotional Intelligence – Closely related to communication skills, this kind of self-awareness and ability to understand and deal with people is an essential component of successful leadership.  Being a brilliant strategist or numbers person, may get you to the C-suite, but will they keep you there?

Transparency – Allied with the values of openness and clarity, the leader’s conscious decision to be transparent about his or her assumptions, decisions and expectations goes a long way to clearing the “sludge” and “swirl” that so often bedevil the workplace.

Unusual Stamina – This is a quality I have noticed that is shared by many outstanding leaders.  It shows up in the workplace where they manage to forge ahead with their vision despite obstacles, a punishing schedule and frequent travel. It also reveals itself in their out-of-work activities such as long distance cycling or extra-curricular board work.

Visionary, Vested – The visionary leader has passion for and is fully aligned with the organization’s mission and purpose.  If they are simply financially vested and there only to collect a paycheck or to plan a beneficial exit for themselves, they will never muster the support true leaders achieve.

Wisdom – This quality encompasses the ability to embrace paradox and to reconcile tensions that arise every day. It goes well beyond mere intelligence, analytical capabilities and financial smarts.  Wisdom is what distinguishes good leaders from great ones.

X-ray Vision – Leaders who show this trait when it comes to reading financial statements, people and business negotiations will avoid the traps into which so many others fall, and it will ensure their organization’s success.

Youth-oriented – Leaders who keep the next generation in mind seek to solve the problems of tomorrow and are not stuck in the ways of the past.  By striving to meet the preferences and needs of young consumers, customers and employees, they are setting the foundation for a sustainable organization for the future. They are building the capacity of future leaders.

Zen, Zealous – The ultimate paradox: these leaders are both “zen” in their approach to the vagaries of business and life, and they are Zealous in their pursuit of excellence.

Can all of these characteristics co-exist in any one person?  I doubt it, but use this checklist to assess the leaders you know.  How do they shape up?  Are these qualities for which you strive?  Do you disagree with any?  Can you suggest others?  I welcome your additions to this list.

Fredia Woolf, Founder of Woolf Consulting, writes about career and workplace issues.  She coaches leaders on how to reach their people, their goals and their potential, and designs programs for organizations to enhance their effectiveness and the quality of both leadership and teamwork.  She can be contacted at fwoolf@woolfconsulting.com.

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Last updated on March 6th, 2012 at 09:40 pm