“Real World”

Successful companies (such as those on the Great Place to Work list) have identified the knowledge, skills, values, behaviors, and actions that successful leaders possess. We examined what hundreds of studies have said about what constitutes good leadership, what companies known for developing leaders do to train their people, and what our clients’ middle managers say are the more challenging tasks they face.

We found that great leaders are:

• Role models who are energized and committed, personifying integrity, courage, and sound values, and inspiring trust in team members, followers, and upper management.

• Problem solvers, making competent decisions dealing with everyday events, especially when confronted with ambiguous situations where emotions run high. The decisions leaders make every day define who they are.

• Team builders who succeed through other individuals and teams, and effective two-way communicators who resolve conflict, show care, and act appropriately for the situation, inspiring cooperation, confidence and optimism.

• Direction setters, generating profit and growing the business, envisioning change and embracing calculated risk taking, leading the way with an entrepreneurial spirit while budgeting and prioritizing effectively.

• Customer champions, focused on serving customers’ needs, thinking and acting win-win for company and customer.

• Structure creators, organizing people, projects, tasks, and resources for optimal coordination and flow, opening communication, and generating alignment.

• Position skilled, competent and knowledgeable in the role they hold in the company.