What Does Good Leadership Look Like?
People who reflect on the subject of leadership do not always agree on what makes a good leader. Most of them focus on leadership instead. Here are 10 different traits used to describe effective leaders:

• They have a clear vision of where to go and how to get there.
• They favor action over inertia.
• They take responsibility for their actions.
• Their values are reflected in their actions.
• They recognize that they need other people and build relationships.
• They are confident enough to consider opinions different from their own.
• They provide the training and tools employees need to complete required tasks.
• They often work alongside their people.
• They are honest about their own weaknesses and hire people who will shore them up. They are both teachers and pupils of their employees.
• They work hard but take time for themselves.

On Leadership and Success: Some Thoughts

I used to think that running an organisation was equivalent to conducting a symphony orchestra. But I don't think that's quite it; it's more like jazz. There is more improvisation.
- Warren Bennis, author and professor

Where there is no vision, the people perish.
- Proverbs 29:18

The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.
- Ray Kroc, Founder of McDonald's

We know not where our dreams will take us, but we can probably see quite clearly where we'll go without them.
- Marilyn Grey, educator and speaker

All serious daring starts from within.
- Eudora Welty, writer

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Tip of the Month

Two's Company, Four's a Crowd
Robin made an appointment with a valued client. They were going to talk about the new insurance plan Robin represented. As she prepared for the meeting, Robin decided to take her colleague Jason because he knew the plan better than she did. Jason agreed but wanted to bring along Tom and his excellent PowerPoint presentation.

When Tom's colleague Marta heard about the presentation, she asked to join them so she could learn from the presentation. Robin was excited to have so many people going with her. But she forgot one key thing - to ask the client's permission to bring along the others.

When she arrived at the client's office with three more in tow, there were not enough chairs in the client's small office. The conference room was in use. Clearly overwhelmed, the client told Robin she had 20 minutes.

Robin did not get the sale and has not been able to get an appointment with the client since.

The moral of this story? Don't present your client with surprises.

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