Nothing happens unless leadership leads, which is very different from a leadership team that manages. Managing is yesterday's news. Great companies and those that want to be great will hire executives, directors, and middle managers who know the difference between leading and managing, and who themselves are leaders.


Leaders show, they don't tell. They lead by example. They clearly communicate their expectations, and their expectations are always at the highest levels. They represent the values of the company, and they hire for those values. They give their staffs all the tools necessary to be successful, including training and regular feedback, and then they get out of the way. Their door is always open, and they maintain the highest levels of integrity and expect their staffs to do so, as well. They demand respect and dignity throughout their areas of responsibility, and they are always respectful and dignified. They expect success and accept nothing less.
Research from The Forum Corporation tells us that leaders have some things in common.
Signs of Good Leadership
A strong intellect: Able to grasp new ideas quickly, engage in complex thinking, and be comfortable with ambiguity.
Technical capability: Possesses in-depth knowledge of the organization's industry, business models, and operations.
Emotional intelligence: Strong, self-aware, self-controlled, and able to develop and maintain strong relationships.
Adaptive capacity: Learns from experience, listens and responds to feedback, and adjusts quickly to new situations.
A track record of success: Accomplished at combining all of these capabilities to get work done effectively with and through others in order to drive business results.
What have been your experiences working with leaders or as a leader yourself? What are the leadership assets, values and skills you most admire?
Writer's Note: Excerpted from Lead With Your Heart.