Research from CEB has identified that senior leaders require 16 (yes 16!) characteristics to perform well.
Whilst we would all like to think that we have high competency’s levels, in reality, only the unicorns amongst could. No individual has all the expertise needed to address complex challenges.
The question our leaders need to ask is:
what can I do, where I am?
The answers are numerous, different for different people, and may include:
✅ consider that these leadership characteristics can be a shared responsibility across the organisation
✅ team coaching to directly develop these teachable, repeatable and improve characteristics
✅ provide safe opportunities to practice on real issues and allow people to build their leadership muscles
In play, these characteristics look like:
1) Empower Staff > Pushing autonomy and empowerment downward through the organisation
2) Motivate Others > Motivating staff to achieve goals
3) Build Team Spirit > Addressing issues disrupting team (network) functioning
4) Listen > Encouraging others to share their views
5) Consult Others> Encouraging team (network) to become involved in the decision-making process
6) Communicate Proactively > Sharing information widely with others
7) Network > Encouraging and assisting others to develop people networks
8) Manage Conflict > Facilitating the resolution of conflict between others
9) Test Assumptions and Investigate > Questioning and challenging assumptions
10) Encourage and Support Organizational Learning > Encouraging a culture of continuous improvement
11) Innovate > Questioning traditional assumptions and producing new ideas, approaches, and insights
12) Seek and Introduce Change > Encouraging others to change inefficient work practices
13) Have Vision > Encouraging other people to think about the organisation’s long-term potential
14) Adapt > Adjusting to change positively
15) Accept New Ideas > Supporting change initiatives
16) Deal with Ambiguity > Tolerating conditions of uncertainty
Leadership requires nurturing!
