When I say Good Leader means a real good one, not an average one, because this rare species of talented people it’s quite hard to find out.
Let’s see a few points that in my experience worth to note here, of course that there is quite more, I can write a book talking and giving examples about it and will still have a lot more to talk.
A good leader:
Don’t use the first person I when speaking to/with the team or with superiors, use always WE, because s(he) like or not, it’s not only s(he) achievement, it’s a team achievement, means that everybody worked together for one goal, because s(he) can’t succeed without the team, the only reason of s(he) be a leader it’s because there is one team to lead. Right!
When the projects succeed is our achievement other else it’s our fail and not “I did it work” or “My team has failed”, usually is “We did it” or “We do have failed”. The biggest problem with this approach is that when project fail s(he) superiors will point the finger to the leader, that in other words means to the team, though it’s rare people that do that, due the lost job fear, that take to an other conclusion, if s(he) has afraid to lost the job means that s(he) doesn’t have confidence or know that s(he) isn’t good as was sell, and to find out other job is quite hard.
Make the team motivated, making them work having the sensation that they are part of something important, have the knowledge to extract the best of each member, knowing their personalities help to avoid pitfalls and interpersonal issues and helps when s(he) need push them harder, because very often the respond as expected.
S(he) is pro-active, have the “Can do” attitude, it’s a positive person, with feet on ground.
Leader has to listen a lot, has to behave as a shield/ filter for the team, avoiding let them have issues with problems that doesn’t concern to the team and the work.
When know something that is useful for the team, share it.
When doesn’t know something, say that doesn’t know, though will do some research and then give a feedback.
It’s not a centre person, he delegate responsibilities, has that attitude “help me help you” and when needed know demand the result.
S(he) like to hear ideas from the team, mixing with their own if necessary to have a better solution.
Doesn’t abuse of technical language, usually when talks it’s look like a conversation.
To be a good leader it’s fundamental that s(he) have technical knowledge to talk with equal conditions with the team, and not using that “high level language” , that just make the team have that image of s(he) that doesn’t know what it’s s(he) is talking about.
Has to know when and with who use the “high level language”.
Good leader like to work with up to dated people, those ones that enjoy challenges and are always looking for learn something new, s(he) feel comfortable among them and not scared.
Usually when the team and s(he) achieve some good results, s(he) name in is know very rare occasions. Usually we just know the achievement made and you can see that the company is going well than before with them
S(he) enjoy when things are going well (who not?), though when things are tough s(he) also enjoy because it’s like a test and s(he) has to improve to overcome the problem and this self improvement is s(he) goal too.
When they fail, they don’t go on a witch hunt crusade, s(he) seat calm take a breath and start analysing where and why it went wrong for that pitfall/problem never happen again.
They look you in the eyes when talking, and you have that feeling the s(he) really know about the conversation topic, and in fact the know it.
Has a lot experience in several situations and responded well in most of them.
S(he) doesn’t care too much for himself/herself they give value to the achievement.
As this is just a blog, those are few characteristics that a good leader must have in my opinion that is based in my years of experience. Though there is a lot more, here I just talked about personality to be a leader, that in my view is one the most important and the most hard to find out.
Please if you want to include something or disagree feel free to comment.
Cheers
