Effective leaders have learnt how to be:-
- Caring – they have a demonstrated ability to empathise with other people’s needs, concerns and goals
- Comfortable with ambiguity – they are willing to take calculated risks, can handle a certain level of disruption and conflict, and are willing to change their minds when new information comes to light
- Persistent – they can maintain a positive, focused attitude in pursuing a goal, despite the obstacles
- Excellent communicators – they know how to listen closely, run meetings, make presentations, negotiate, and speak in public
- Politically astute – they have acquired a solid sense of their organisation’s power structure, listen especially carefully to the concerns of its most powerful groups, and know where to turn for the support and resources they need
- Humorous – when the situation warrants it, they know how to inject a little mirth to relieve tension within a group
- Level-headed – in the midst of turmoil and confusion
- Self aware – enough to know how their own patterns of behaviour impact others
- Future-focused – they understand how their unit fits into the bigger organisational picture, and they organise short-term tasks according to long-term priorities.