attributes of a successful leader

Another in a continuing series of discussion questions from class with my response.

What qualities or attributes does it take to be a successful leader?

I find myself agreeing with my colleagues here on this thread for the most part. I agree that leadership and management are two distinct concepts. For instance, a manager uses her leadership skills to manage her team. In addition, there is a semantic difference between a “good” leader and a “successful” leader. Clearly, precisely defining leadership is difficult. However, we all know the difference between a successful leader and one who is not. What attributes determine successful leadership? Robert Chiusano (VP, COO Rockwell Collins Commercial Systems) presented some excellent examples in his lecture, but I think it boils down to one of his final points: balance.

In "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," Stephen Covey, the author, mentions that leadership is based on a balance of courage and consideration. That is, the courage to express one’s vision (thoughts, feelings, convictions) balanced with the consideration for the thoughts and feelings of others. Courage focuses on achieving the goal, while consideration ensures all the stakeholders and contributors benefit.

If we consider Chiusano's final points on interpersonal leadership, "Leader of People" in the context of Covey’s:

Chiusano 1: Take Them To Where They Won't Normally Go By Themselves
Covey 1: Courage to express where you want them to go, consideration to
understand why they wouldn’t go there themselves.

Chiusano 2: Mentoring
Covey 2: Consideration to ensuring your team benefits by learning and
developing professionally and personally.

Chiusano 3: Understand the Culture of People
Covey 3: Consideration, by definition.

Chiusano 4: Focus On Customers and People
Covey 4: Consideration for your customers needs.

Chiusano 5: Conduct Yourself with Ethics And Integrity
Covey 5: Courage to stand firm with personal and professional ethics and
integrity.

There must be a balance between the two though. More courage than consideration leads to strong personal with plenty of ego (not the best leader in my experience as resentment tends to build in the team). More consideration than courage could lead to a case where one is so considerate of one’s ideas, they won’t have the courage to express their own ideas (in other words, the team does not progress towards a goal or vision).

Balance of courage and consideration, the fundamental attribute of leadership, extends beyond just interpersonal leadership or management in the workplace. This balance exemplifies maturity, which lends to personal character, which then helps in all facets of life: at work, at home, and individually.

The only point I disagree with my colleagues on, respectfully, is Bobby Knight being a successful leader. His style of leadership is definitely big on courage, little on compassion. (In other words, ego-driven.) He might have taken his team to a good number of championships, but in the end, his demise was just like the demise of the morally bankrupt executives in the headlines. Were they leaders? Perhaps. Successful? I think not. It's not so great when you lead your team into a hole in the ground and/or get fired in shame and the public views it with repugnance. Bobby Knight didn't leave Indiana as a leader, but rather as a disgraced figure.