HPR 323

Ten Ways to Identify a Promising Person 1. Leadership in the past 2. The capacity to create or catch vision 3. A person who doesn't feel the thrill of challenge is not a potential leader 4. A constructive spirit of discontent 5. Practical ideas 6. A willingness to take responsibility (vs. quest for “power”)

7. A completion factor 8. Mental toughness 9. Peer respect 10. A quality that makes people listen to them (Fred Smith, LEADERSHIP JOURNAL; Fall 1996, Vol. XVII, No. 4, Page 30)

The Top 10 Leadership Qualities  Intro  Leadership can be defined as one's ability to get others to willingly follow  A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go, as well as a firm grasp on what success looks like and how to achieve it  A leader must be able to communicate his or her vision in terms that cause followers to buy into it  Action is the mark of a leader – no “analysis paralysis”

1. Integrity is the integration of outward actions and inner values 2. Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand 3. Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due 4. Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team

 Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking  Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions  Fairness means dealing with others consistently and justly

 Assertiveness is not the same as aggressiveness  A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility

10 Characteristics of Superior Leaders Do you have these essential traits? 1. Mission: Leaders know what their mission is. They know why the organization exists 2. Vision: Where do you want your organization to go? 3. Goal: How is the organization going to achieve its mission and vision and how will you measure your progress? 4. Competency: You must be seen by your advisors, stakeholders, employees, and the public as being an expert in your field or an expert in leadership

5. A strong team: Realistically, few leaders possess all of the skills and abilities necessary to demonstrate total mastery of every requisite area within the organization 6. Communication skills: It does little good to have a strong mission, vision, and goals if the leader cannot easily and effectively convey his ideas to the stakeholders inside and outside of the organization

7. Interpersonal skills: Successful entrepreneurs are comfortable relating to other people 8. A "can do, get it done" attitude 9. Inspiration: Quite often, employees need someone to look up to for direction, guidance, and motivation. The entrepreneur needs to be that person 10. Ambition: Resting on your laurels is bad for employee morale and entrepreneurial credibility