What makes an effective leader?
While researching for the book, I came across the five characteristics psychologist Daniel Goleman had observed in highly effective leaders.
They are, as you can see, not about their capacity to make decisions, or their technical knowledge (although, of course, these will come in handy).
They are about their ability to be more aware of themselves and others. They are all about being emotionally intelligent, which implies humility, flexibility, and the willingness to help others.
Here they are:
1. Self-awareness: understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, and how you impact others.
2. Self-regulation: controlling your impulses and emotions, and positively redirecting them.
3. Motivation: being driven by a sense of purpose and passion.
4. Empathy: understanding and caring about the feelings and needs of others.
5. Social skills: communicating effectively, building relationships, and resolving conflicts.
A few questions for you:
- When you think about the managers you have come across in your career so far, can you identify if and how these characteristics manifested in real life? And if not, how did that make you and others feel?
- And when you look at yourself, which ones do you think you still have to work on?
Stop reading and start planning how you are going to address these shortcomings.
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