INEFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP

Great Leaders:

• Are self-aware and able to tune into their own thoughts, feelings, and emotions, exercise increased self-control and recognize how they are being perceived.  When you are self-aware you are better able to "connect the dots" of cause and effect, interrupt negative patterns, and be more empathetic.
   

• Can communicate their messages in a way that creates buy-in. It is a common misperception that the person speaking has the power.  It’s actually the people listening who are empowered. If you can't communicate your message in a way that people are willing to listen, are invested in understanding, and motivated to follow you, you will not be effective. For example, you can have the cure for cancer, but unless you can communicate your message, create buy-in, and give people a path to follow, you will not be successful in bringing about your cure.
   

• Are able to understand that in order to create change, innovate, and meet challenges, they need to inspire their teams to be motivated by passion and purpose.  When teams don't understand why they are doing something or what the impact is, they are much less motivated.  
   

• Have an ability to capitalize on their strengths and recognize their challenges and be willing to address them.  We all have weaknesses and areas of challenges, but when you aren't willing to address them, you will  stay stuck and not evolve to be the best leader you can be.
   

• Take risks.  Great leaders recognize that in order to innovate, create change, and be disrupters, they need to take risks.  Research shows that leaders who take risks are more likely to be positively perceived, regardless of whether or not they are successful. In short, healthy risk taking is a positive forward energy.  
   

• Are resilient.  When you are resilient, you see failure for what it is, an isolated experience where you happen to fail. This allows you to maintain your sense of self and be more open to risk. In contrast, people who struggle with resilience, when they fail, tend to see themselves as a failure which undermines their sense of self and creates a fear of risk.
   

• Lead intentionally.  Most positive change doesn't happen by accident, but comes about because it is well thought out, focused and strategic.  If you don't lead, someone else will and that requires intention.