By Jay-Ann Fordy

Leadership is a topic of which we never seem to tire.  There are countless of books on the topic and hordes of leadership ‘experts’ out there talking up one formula or another for improving our leadership skills.

If only it was that cut and dried.

While great leaders are ready enough to identify, the reality is that leadership itself is nebulous, ever-changing and anything but formulaic.  There is no perfect leadership style, as there is no perfect leader.  Leadership, as with any skill set approached with the intent of mastery, is never perfected, only refined.

That said, leaders do share a few things in common.  In my conversations with people who I think are great leaders, I have learned a few things that I try to put to work on a regular basis.  Sometimes I fail and sometimes I feel pretty good about it.

The first thing a good leader needs to have is a point of view and the ability to communicate what they are passionate about.  Great leaders know how to craft a story that others can buy into and share that passion.  What do you want to change and why?  It’s all about personal brand.  Leaders use themselves as bellwethers and appeal to those around them with their clarity of vision.  Most importantly, the leader is not always the one at the top of the organizational chart.  Leadership is not a merit of title.  I have had people lead me towards something without it being a reporting relationship.

The second thing leaders possess in spades is curiosity.  Be curious.  Great leaders ask plenty of questions and are genuinely interested in what is on your mind.  This is not due diligence or duty.  This is who they are; they really want to know.  Great leaders are always curious and that trait extends into every direction.  People, culture, business, you name it: leaders seek out new knowledge and deeper understanding on a daily basis.  The idea of standing still is a slow death to them.

Their innate curiosity exposes them regularly to new thinking, new territory and ultimately into a leadership role.  Why?  Because as they amass this knowledge, they get a sense of how to do things differently and a well-rounded awareness of the people and skills required to get the job done.

Of course, talking and listening only go so far.  The third trait I have recognized in great leaders is a compulsion to “act”.  Seeing a better tomorrow, gathering input and rallying support falls by the wayside if left too long to idle.  Fortunately, action defines the great leader and while this compulsion may lead them to take risks that others will not, it is also what moves their dreams, teams and products forward.

The great leaders I have known do these three things consistently.  None of the above is beyond our grasp…there is a great leader in all of us waiting to come out, however, as with the ability to read a financial statement or interview a candidate, leadership is a discipline.

Jay-Ann Fordy
President, BCHRMA
president@bchrma.org

(PeopleTalk: Winter 2010)