The Great Leader:10 Attributes of Transformational Leadership

摘要

“If your actions inspire others to dream more,learn more,do more and become more,you are a leader.”–John Quincy Adams In today’s utility environment,the need for developing successful leaders is more important than ever before,but have you ever thought:what makes a great leader?Have you experienced managers,supervisors,and others that are not great leaders?If so,have you wondered what they were missing?Have you ever met people that have‘I’m a leader’stenciled across their forehead?Maybe they are not even in a supervisory role (yet),but you know that they would make a great supervisor,a great manager,and/or a great leader.Have you ever wondered how you can be a great leader? It is important to understand that being a great leader does not mean that you have to be the manager or CEO.“Ninety-nine percent of all leadership occurs not from the top but from the middle of an organization.”(Maxwell(2005),p.1)Great leaders will move upwards in an organization…it is simply a matter of time and diligence. From a compilation of sources(particularly,Covey(1989);Maxwell(2005);Welch (2005);Buckingham&Coffman(1999);etc),the following list delineates 10 attributes, as defined by the author,of a great leader: 1)Leadership Ability and Desire 2)Visionary 3)Planner and Organizer 4)Integrity 5)Competence and Confidence 6)Communication and Follow-up 7)Emotional Intelligence 8)Team Dynamics 9)Risk-taker 10)Motivation and Success Many of us have several of the above attributes,but few have all.What is important is acknowledging the attributes that we possess,and recognizing what it takes to reach the pinnacle of leadership.What is equally important is devising ways to get there,even if we never quite make it.What is even more important is knowing how to help others get there–a critical element of succession planning,and the highest level of motivational maturity. This paper will examine the attributes of a great leader,and how one can apply such attributes to lead an organization towards increased competitiveness,productivity, sustainability,and success.A cognitive approach to knowing what makes a great leader is the first step in recognizing leadership qualities in you,in others,and in leading your organization to success.