What Makes Great Leaders Great?

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote in Parade magazine yesterday (9/14/2008) about what makes great Presidents great. Let's see how her leadership lessons apply to business leaders and executives:

1.The courage to stay strong - "A President [business leader?] needs the ability to withstand adversity and motivate himself [and/or herself] in the face of frustration."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: I actually think that it's more important for business leaders and executives to be adept at helping his/her staff withstand adversity and motivate themselves in the face of frustration.

2. Self-confidence - "Good leadership requires you to surround yourself with people of diverse perspectives who can disagree with you without fear of retaliation."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: I agree with this, but also believe that you have to be ready, willing, and able to decide what happens next based on the input received and your own understanding of the situation and the downstream implications of any alternative.

3. An ability to learn from errors - "To lead successfully, you must be willing to acknowledge and learn from your mistakes."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: I believe that you must also be able to learn from the mistakes of others even more.

4. A willingness to change - "Conditions change, and Presidents [business leaders?] must respond."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: The concept of 'responding' is one thing, but I believe that the practice of responding meaningfully and appropriately is of far more import.

5. Emotional intelligence - "A President [business leader?] must encourage his [and/or her?] closest advisers to give their best and remain loyal."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: I'm actually not sure about this one at all. Sure, it's important for a business leader to encourage his (and/or her) closest advisers to give their best, but why stop with the inner circle? Encourage everyone, everywhere, to give their best, I say. And, as far as remaining loyal, if an executive cannot provide a cogent business justification for whatever actions are desired, then I believe those actions should be questioned and not just blindly followed.

6. Self-control - "Great leaders manage their emotions and remain calm in the midst of trouble."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: Abso-posi-lutely. The extent of a crisis is often defined as much by how the boss reacts than to the actual situation. Make no mistake, as the boss you are being watched, and what you say and do - in both formal and informal settings - is being noticed.

7. A popular touch - "The best Presidents [business leaders?] have an intuitive awareness of public sentiment, a sense of when to wait and when to lead."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: Yes, ...and when to follow other people's leads, as well.

8. A moral compass - "Only strong leaders have the courage and integrity to follow their convictions when the risk of losing popular support is great."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: Agreed, however - and this is a very BIG however - leaders, whether in business or the White House, certainly have no 'lock' on the ability to follow their convictions when under pressure. To assume anything different is profoundly disrespectful, in my opinion.

9. A capacity to relax.

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: Yes, yes, YES. The ability to quickly recover and fully recharge one's batteries - at the end of , and during, the day - is an essential competency for business leaders and executives in both the public and private sectors.

10. A gift for inspiring others - "One of the key qualities of a great President [a great business leader?] is his [and/or her] ability to communicate national [business?] goals to the people and to educate and shape public opinion."

Relevance to business leaders and executives, per BZ: Never underestimate the power of inspiration, an opportunity to inspire, or the value of being inspirational.