A Definition of Leadership

I got to spend a couple of hours on an airplane over the past couple of days. I always use that time to catch up on my "throwaway" reading. You know, the pile of magazines/articles that you keep meaning to get to. I find airplanes are the greatest place to read that stuff. 

In any event, in one of my "throwaway" articles, someone wrote about leadership and the concept that a a real leader is someone who is savvy without being jaded.

Brilliant!

I think that defines a great leader to a tee.  The great leader understands the organization and the market.  They know what's going on and they are still willing to coach and mentor others.  The savvy leader will help others steer the shark infested  waters.  The savvy leader looks out for her team...helping to insure their collective success.  The savvy leader is an optimist and not a jaded pessimist. 

And you know what, we can actually figure out some of these individual leadership traits by using assessment testing.  We can get to core leadership traits to help organizations define what they need in their leaders and what skills and traits potential leaders are bringing to the table. 

Comments

[Shama Hyder]

Savvy-without being jaded. I love that Jay! I think that is true of all successful business owners as well. :)