Traits For Highly Influential Leaders
Traits For Highly Influential Leaders
“I just can’t seem to get people to truly understand,” she said. “I feel like I’ve tried everything. I tell them they need to be better. I tell them what they need to fix. And, they just don’t respond.” These words came from a woman who was recently promoted. She was now leading a department of nearly eighty people. “I feel like I’m failing.”
I’m a nice a guy. I really am. But, as I spoke to this woman, and inquired about her leadership style, I felt an immediate disconnect between who she was, and who she thought she should be as a boss.
“Let me ask you a question,” I said. “Tell me about the three most influential people in your career.”
She thought for a second, and then began telling me stories about the people who helped her, motivated her, and influenced her to become the person she is today. Her stories were heartfelt and inspiring.
“When my bosses spoke, I listened,” she exclaimed. “Why won’t my employees listen to me?”
“That’s simple,” I responded. “You’re different than your employees simply because you had better leaders.”
While those words may sound harsh on the exterior, the woman immediately understood my point—that she was trying to be a boss, instead of being an inspiration. And, this conversation made me think about the many thousands of leaders I’ve interviewed throughout my career. Which were the most influential, and why? Which leaders built the strongest cultures? Which seemed to create the most loyal following—sometimes dragging their teams from one organization to the next? Those are all great questions. And, from my experience both working for many eclectic people, and interviewing many of the top executives in the world, here are the 7 unmistakable traits I’ve seen amongst highly influential leaders.
