Achieving the Impossible: Leadership Attributes of Character and Mindset
I am always interested in what makes people tick.
What drives them to achieve insurmountable success in their chosen endeavours?
I understand that everyone is different. But there are unique character and mindset attributes that one picks up from those who have trodden the road of business success.
So this little review hopefully summarised some of the character attributes that I have sort to display in my life and in the lives of successful business leaders who I have admired and known personally, as well as those known from afar.
Successful business leaders possess a unique blend of character attributes and mindset traits that enable them to guide their businesses effectively, drive growth, and adapt to changing environments.
I appreciate that you may believe that there are more attributes that I should be reviewing and that is OK. This is not a definitive or exhaustive treatise on the subject, but some personal observation to ponder on as leaders, learn from, and hopefully apply in our lives to become the best version of ourselves.
Successful leaders have a clear vision of where they want to take their organisation. They can see the big picture and develop long-term strategies that align with their company’s goals.
Successful business leaders are forward-thinking and proactive, anticipating future trends and challenges. They stay focused on long-term outcomes rather than being distracted by short-term setbacks.
It is important to say that long-term outcomes today is unfortunately defined within 3-5 years. As many of you know, our corporate public listed companies tend to be controlled on a quarterly basis earnings report. However it essential to frame the medium term goal to ensure focus and direction is maintained.
2. Resilience and Adaptability
Resilience helps leaders stay strong in the face of adversity and bounce back from failures or setbacks. They understand that challenges are part of the journey and use them as learning opportunities.
Examples are Steve Jobs coming back to Apple having been fired initially because of disagreements with the board. Nick Woodman: Funbug flop to GoPro. J.K. Rowling: Writing Harry Potter on the dole. Sir James Dyson, a few months away from being bankrupt after re-mortgaging his house to get his Dyson patented innovation over the line. There story is success from the dark times of failure.
Mindset:
The best leaders adopt a growth mindset, viewing obstacles as stepping stones rather than barriers. They remain flexible and willing to adapt strategies as circumstances change.
The example of Dyson is great here. A change in marketing approach created the TV advert 'Say goodbye to the bag', the rest is history.
3. Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Emotional intelligence includes self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills. Leaders with high EQ can connect with others, build strong relationships, and manage their emotions effectively.
They prioritise understanding and valuing the emotions and motivations of their employees, customers, and stakeholders, which leads to better decision-making and leadership.
Satya Nadala of Microsoft is known for his strong EQ. This was certainly the case in their investment negotiation with OpenAI, the forerunner for commercial AI globally. His masterstroke of working with Sam Altman to help him navigate the issues at OpenAI as well as allowing Microsoft to steal a massive leap over ALL of its tech rivals is one for the books.
4. Decisiveness
Great leaders can make decisions swiftly and confidently, even when faced with incomplete information. They are capable of weighing options, assessing risks, and choosing a direction in a timely manner.
They believe that action is better than inaction and are comfortable making tough decisions, knowing that delays could be costly.
Steve Jobs, Satya Nadala and Elon Musk are examples of having the ability to accumulate swathes of data and information and so use it to be clear on the next steps.
5. Integrity and Ethical Leadership
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Integrity involves adhering to moral and ethical principles, being transparent, and doing the right thing even when it’s difficult. Ethical leaders set a strong example for others to follow.
Warren Buffet is an example of the importance of leadership in helping his people understand formally the power of reputation management for not only themselves but the company.
Business leaders who have a strong internal compass generally believe in building a foundation of trust. They prioritise doing what’s right over what’s expedient, maintaining credibility and trust among employees and stakeholders.
With ethics and integrity, it must be clear that you have to be on your A Grade continuously. One mistake can ruin the business. Look up Sam Bankman-Fried whose idea and then coercion, to pressure the rest of the team to throw away their ethical moral compass, has been the subject of many reports.
6. Focus on Innovation
Successful leaders foster a culture of innovation. They encourage creativity, experimentation, and are always seeking new ways to improve products, services, or processes.
They view change as an opportunity, not a threat. They constantly ask, "How can we do this better?" and encourage their teams to think outside the box.
Dyson is an example dedicating 15% budget spend to R&D. 3M created a culture where internal grants funds backed amazing ideas.
7. Strong Communication Skills
Successful leaders are clear, concise, and compelling communicators. They can convey complex ideas in a way that is easily understood and inspire action.
They understand that communication is a two-way process and value active listening. They prioritize transparency and open dialogue to build trust and engagement.
8. Customer-Centric Approach
Successful leaders keep the customer at the centre of their decision-making. They understand the importance of customer satisfaction and loyalty to the company’s long-term success.
Examples include Lynsi Snyder, president and owner of In-N-Out Burger: has worked on every area of the business. Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of Starbucks: works one half-day a month as a barista. Greg Foran, CEO of Air New Zealand: Regularly works as a member of the cabin crew.
They believe that understanding and meeting customer needs is the key to competitive advantage. They constantly seek feedback and look for ways to improve the customer experience.
9. Delegation and Trust
Great leaders know they can't do everything themselves. They trust their team and delegate responsibilities, giving others the opportunity to grow and take ownership of tasks.
Those of you know my writings will understand my encouragement to ALL leaders to learn the art of delegation. Building teams that are self motivated and goal focussed is something that we should all strive for. For more on the power of delegation then click on the link here.
They have faith in their team’s abilities and believe in empowering others to contribute to the organisation's success. They provide guidance without micromanaging. Setting objectives rather being a dictator!!
I hope the above provides an opportunity for all of us to assess our character and mindset attributes and traits and to improve the areas that we are weak in.
If you want to know more about our 360 Leadership review that helps to allow you to focus on developing these key leadership skills and mental traits then please reach out on the link here.