What Makes a Good Leader?

Leadership means different things to different people. For some, it’s about service. For others, decisiveness. For many, it’s the ability to approach problems rationally; It’s communicating lessons learned from a place of deep understanding and experience. The first step for any good leader, though, is to be clear about their values and leadership philosophy. They should identify three core values, describe how they have lived them in their career, and explain why they are crucial for success. Creating a unique and authentic narrative helps others understand their leadership style and approach. Decision making becomes more complex as leaders move up, requiring them to seek input from their team, be brutally honest about challenges, and avoid flawed decision frameworks. Leaders should listen carefully to their team while providing directional guidance and context for their decisions. Setting performance expectations is a balancing act, as leaders must find the right pace for their team, neither overwhelming nor demotivating them. Compartmentalization is crucial to managing leadership pressure, staying focused on what matters most, and delegating tasks when needed. Self-awareness is a key attribute for effective leaders, involving recognizing emotions and triggers that may affect decision making. Leaders should seek feedback and be aware of their blind spots to bridge the gap between how they perceive themselves and how their team perceives them. And finally, leaders should craft empowering narratives, overcome the fear of failure, avoid a victim mentality, and focus on what they can control. Openness to learning and continuous improvement is essential for successful leadership.