07 Jan Four Strengths of Great Leaders
Great leaders are defined in many ways and across many different situations. Through my work with clients, I’ve observed that the strongest leaders consistently demonstrate four key strengths.
They Keep Their Egos in Check
If you haven’t already figured this out, it’s not about you it’s about the team. The most respected leaders understand that their journey to leadership was made possible, in part, by the support of others.
Whether they earned their role through strong individual performance or by bringing teams together to achieve shared goals, they recognize they didn’t get there alone.
Strong leaders acknowledge that they don’t have all the answers and give others permission to contribute to the collective thinking and success of the team. When I speak one-on-one with team members, humility is a word that comes up often when they describe their leaders. A humble leader is often the most respected leader.
Do you keep your ego in check and allow others to inform your thinking?
They Stay in Active Learning Mode
You don’t have all the answers, and you never will. The strongest leaders understand that continuous improvement is essential to organizational success.
While they champion growth and development across their teams, they also challenge themselves to learn and grow. The phrase “leaders inspire to aspire” suggests that leaders motivate others to think beyond what’s immediately in front of them. To do that, leaders must be thinking ahead themselves.
Staying informed about what shapes future developments enables a forward-looking perspective. Learning today is more accessible than ever. TED Talks, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, podcasts, and other resources make it possible to build a personal learning plan on your own time.
Imagine a team that embraces continuous learning because their leader models that behavior.
What is your plan for staying in active learning mode?
They Stay in Active Listening Mode
Do you really listen to those around you? Most of us don’t. We’re often too busy preparing our next response or thinking about the point we want to make.
Listening goes beyond what you hear; it also includes what you observe. Leaders frequently miss the subtext of what is, and isn’t, being said in meetings and one-on-one conversations.
Body language, tone, and word choice often reveal confusion, misalignment, or hesitation. Paying attention to both visual and verbal cues helps leaders better understand what their teams need.
Effective dialogue requires full attention. When leaders actively listen, conversations are more productive, and outcomes are more likely to be achieved. How do you ensure you’re truly listening?
They Embrace Inquiry
Effective inquiry is a hallmark of strong leadership. Great leaders know how to balance asking questions with advocating for ideas.
Leaders who are humble, curious, and attentive listeners tend to ask the best questions. They understand that success is shared and that inquiry expands collective thinking.
Well-timed questions can serve many purposes. They show genuine interest, signal that it’s safe to challenge assumptions, including the leader’s, and encourage deeper thinking. Questions can also clarify misunderstandings and validate ideas.
Great leaders are mindful of both the timing and tone of their questions, knowing that each can either energize or discourage a team.
Today’s culture often emphasizes having the right answer instead of discovering the right question. Nobel Prize–winning physicist Arno Penzias once said, “The first thing I do every morning when I wake up is ask myself, ‘Why do I believe what I believe?’”
What do you ask yourself when you walk into the office each day?