6 Defining characteristics of great leaders

The ability to unleash people’s potential, to energise them to use their talent and to work towards a common goal is the master skill of a true leader. Let’s examine the some of the most defining characteristics of great leaders. 

1. They lead with a clear purpose – Clarity of purpose is the rallying point of every endeavour. A great leader ensures that each person on the team understands and identifies with the purpose & his role in the mission. For example, Nelson Mandela’s whole purpose in life was to create a free, democratic & united South Africa.This clarity helped him to not only mobilise and enthuse a whole nation towards a new beginning but also to navigate through varying challenges without compromising on his core values and principles.
2. They can see beyond the realms of the ordinary – Great leaders are social innovators and have the ability to envision things in the future  based on their keen awareness of the present, including new inventions, discoveries or even anticipating forthcoming trends or movements. They have the ability to articulate this vision and follow their inner sense of direction to lead from the inside out. Fredrick W. Smith, Founder & CEO- FedEx revolutionised the field of logistics by introducing overnight air delivery, which was unheard of till then. While Steve Jobs’s passionate interest in design & engineering helped set Apple distinctly apart from other technology companies and made it the most valuable company in the world.
3. They foster greatness – To an individual, success is usually about focusing on the self. But a great leader is able to move beyond the self to embrace the larger good of the team or community within which he functions. Great leaders know that in order to achieve and build on success, there needs to be a pipeline of capable people to carry the mantle forward. Hence, he is keenly interested in developing others and helping them leverage their innate talent, without fear of competition or comparison.
4. They are guided by the spirit of service – JRD Tata, the founder of the successful $141.27 billion Tata Group in India, attributed his success to his belief that whatever he did or attempted to do would serve the needs and interests of his country. The truly great leaders aren’t those who are driven to lead people but those who are driven to serve them.
5. Engage in lifelong learning –Great leaders continually ask questions, challenging themselves and others to seek diverse viewpoints and explore new frontiers in their field. At the same time, they pay great attention to coaching, mentoring, and developing their people. They understand that continual learning is the key to unlocking your potential, upgrading your knowledge and achieving real wisdom.
6. They lead by example – “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”Albert Schweitzer. Great leaders walk their talk and strive to be the best at what they do. Their actions reflect their principles and form the basis of the relationship of trust they build with their stakeholders. Jim Sinegal, Co-Founder and retired CEO of Costco, the second largest retailer in the United States shepherded the company from a humble 100,000 square feet warehouse to $97.062 billion company.Yet he retained his simplicty and humility. He answered his own phone, and his plain office at the company headquarters didn’t even have walls. While most CEOs of a large company are paid in the millions, Sinegal’s paid himself a yearly salary of $350,00, because he reasoned he shouldn’t be paid more than 12 people working on the floor. Its no surprise then his employee turnover rate was  the lowest in the retail industry, over five times lessthan rival Wal-Mart.
7. They turn setbacks into stepping stones – When Kathy Giusti, a pharmaceutical executive with Searle, learned in 1996 that she had multiple myelomas, a type of blood cancer, she was not given more than 3-5 years by her doctors. Within weeks of her diagnosis, Giusti began shaking up the myeloma research set-up – bringing isolated doctors and scientists together to share data, and building a never before seen consortium to develop drugs.  Two years later, she started the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. By 2014, six new drugs were approved for treatment of the disease, and life expectancy for many patients has since then doubled. In 2011, Giusti name appeared in the TIME 100 List of theworld’s most influential people. Giusti did not allow a disease to limit her, instead, she challenged the existing status quo and buil a movement to transform the lives of many like her.

So what other traits do you think define great leaders? Share your feedback in the comments below or write your own blog and tag it #Corporatesufi and we’ll love to have a read.