Imagine a round-table discussion about leadership character. In attendance are philosophers and thought leaders from around the world and down through the ages. The question is: What are the qualities of a good leader?
by Tom Morris, George Manning
The following can be used to assess and develop leaders today. For each quality, rate yourself or a leader you know – 1 is low; 10 is high. A quote or maxim is included to support each quality.
1. Honesty ___
The New Testament of the Bible says, "Know the truth and it shall make you free." Good leadership begins with honesty, so discover the facts and always speak the truth.
Honesty is the foundation of all virtue.– Confucius
2. Self-knowledge ___
Inscribed on the wall of the Greek Oracle at Delphi are the words, "Know Thyself." The Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard thought people could be divided into types – in our words: drifters or drivers, and takers or givers. He thought good leaders are driving givers, not drifting takers. Know who you are.
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom.– Lao Tsu
3. Vision___
Effective leaders determine purpose and direction, and, in this way, they focus, energize, and guide others to achieve results. The Hebrew Bible says, "Where there is no vision, the people will perish.”
When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds.– Patanjali
4. Responsibility___
The essence of leadership is to make decisions, so conviction and courage are required. The effective leader listens to others but makes final decisions. As Harry Truman famously said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
The price of greatness is responsibility.– Winston Churchill
5. Justice___
Leaders make judgments, so fairness is needed to gain the trust of others. Mark Twain said, "Always do what is right; it will please most of the people and astound the rest." The leader who makes judgments to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of people is considered to be a just leader.
Without justice, courage is weak.– Benjamin Franklin
6. Perseverance___
Leadership requires persistence to achieve success. Physical and emotional strength are assets in struggles to prevail. The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius said, " When faced with adversity, exercise self-discipline and see things through."
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.– Confucius
7. Charisma___
Leadership is social influence, so understanding people and persuasive power are required. Successful leaders are meaning makers and use ideas and deeds to ignite enthusiasm and influence people and events. Napoleon makes the point that great leaders are optimists and merchants of hope.
Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved.– Ralph Waldo Emerson
8. Respect___
Effective leaders show respect for others by considering their beliefs and needs. The successful leader seeks to understand the values and perspectives of diverse people. They are guided by Immanuel Kant's categorical imperative – treat people as ends, not means.
If we treat people like they are, they will never become more; if we treat people like they can be, it will raise the species.– Johann Goethe
9. Excellence___
Effective leaders set high standards of performance, never lowering the bar. The Greek word 'arete' stands for excellence as a virtue. Leaders who strive for continuous improvement embody this important quality. They live and lead in the spirit of the childhood rhyme – "Good, better, best; never let it rest till the good gets better, and better is the best."
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is a habit.– Aristotle
10. Service___
The servant leader is guided by the value of serving others as opposed to being served. Leaders who put the well-being of others before self-service make sure three things are true – they are personally available; they make sure communication is two-way and honest; they show tangible support for the people doing the work. Winston Churchill captured the spirit of servant leadership when he said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others.– Mahatma Gandhi
11. Gratitude ___
Effective leaders are thankful for the support of others, celebrating those who do the hard tasks, dangerous jobs, and unpleasant tasks. Closely related is humility to know great achievements are accomplished only with the help and support of others. This thought is supported in business books like Jim Collins’ Built to Last and Good to Great.
Not all of us can do great things, but we can all do small things with love.– Mother Teresa
12. Courage ___
Courage is a critical quality of leadership. Without courage, other qualities pale and wither away. Courage gives reality to such ideals as justice and service. Abraham Lincoln embodied courage in the face of adversity in his efforts to preserve the American Union and free the slaves.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.– Joan of Arc
Scoring and Discussion:
Add the ratings and record the total____. See the evaluation and discussion below:
Score
Evaluation
Discussion
120-108
Outstanding
Highly effective leaders receive these scores. These individuals produce top results in morale and performance.
107-84
Very Good
Good leaders receive these scores. They are well-regarded by their direct reports.
83-60
Ordinary
Leaders who receive these scores are functional, but improvement is important.
59-48
Deficient
These leaders are below standard with morale and performance problems. Counseling and training should be sought.
47- Below
Failing
Reassignment should be made.
Important leadership qualities include: 1. Honesty; 2. Self-knowledge; 3. Vision; 4. Responsibility; 5. Justice; 6. Perseverance; 7. Charisma; 8. Respect; 9. Excellence; 10. Service; 11. Gratitude; 12. Courage.
Three practical applications are: 1. When writing a leadership character reference, address these 12 qualities, remembering that the best predictor of the future is the past. 2. When creating a curriculum for the development of leaders, address these 12 qualities. 3. When coaching leaders, include what the ancients say about leadership character.
Related Reading:
The Cave and The Light by Arthur Herman
Leaders by Stanley McChrystal
Jesus CEO by Laurie Beth Jones
Author: Tom Morris
Tom Morris is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill with a double PhD from Yale who became a public philosopher after 15 years of teaching at Notre Dame, authoring over 30 published books, including national bestsellers, while bringing philosophy to many of the best-known and most successful organizations in the world. His work has been lauded and discussed in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, The Economist, and many other global magazines and newspapers. His latest books are Plato’s Lemonade Stand and Stoicism for Dummies.
Author: George Manning
George Manning is a professor emeritus of psychology at Northern Kentucky University. He is a consultant to business, industry, and government, serving such clients as the AMA, AT&T, General Electric, IBM, Duke Energy, the United Auto Workers, Young Presidents’ Organization, the U.S. Navy, and the National Institutes of Health. He lectures on economic and social issues, including quality of work-life, workforce values, and business ethics. He maintains an active program of research and writing in organizational psychology. His current studies and interests include the changing meaning of work, leadership ethics, and coping skills for personal and social change. He is the author of the best selling leadership text book, The Art of Leadership. He regularly writes on McGraw Hill "Leadership Today."