Leader’s Choice

Everybody wants to be a leader.

If a book promises to give you the five secrets to successful leadership, it’ll hit the bestseller’s list overnight.

If a blog boasts of unveiling the hidden code for leading the pack, its followers will come begging for more.

But the truth is that you can’t be a leader until you learn to follow. You can’t lead effectively until you become the person who can be led well. You won’t learn the best leadership characteristics until you put yourself in a place to observe a leader you respect.

Which leads to the obvious question: what kind of person would an effective leader choose for his team?

Or more specifically, are you the kind of person your favorite leader would hire?

Here are some characteristics every leader is looking for:

1. Someone who will be on time. Do you tend to rush in at the last minute for meetings? Are you always just a few minutes behind schedule? Effective leaders are on time and expect their people to be on time too. That may mean getting up a little earlier or skipping that starbucks stop. You do the math.

2. Someone who will take initiative. Got a great idea? Pitch it to your boss. See something that needs to be done? Don’t just talk about it. Do it yourself. Leaders who have built great companies are still caught taking out trash and making sure every detail is thought of. Follow their lead and take the lead.

3. Someone who will have integrity. This seems so obvious but it’s sadly not true in so many people these days. Are you a truth teller? Do you eat company time by checking your facebook updates while the piles are accumulating on your desk? Be a person of integrity no matter the cost.

4. Someone who will follow through. It’s great to have initiative and start a project, but nothing will ruin your reputation more than lack of follow through. If you’re a golfer you’d know that follow through is responsible for where the ball lands and how far it goes. Don’t stop until the job is done. Your boss will notice if you don’t. Trust me.

5. Someone who is teachable. I can’t tell you how important this last trait is. As an attending physician I have led teams of nurses, medical students, residents and fellows for close to 10 years. Nothing is more valuable than a person who is teachable. I don’t expect my students to know everything, but I do expect them to be humble and open to instruction. I can’t tell you how many folks I’ve sent home early, not because I’ve liked them, but because I could do better without them hanging around with their attitude. Ditch the attitude and be willing to learn from your leaders.

Wanna be a leader? It’s possible. Start by being the kind of person that is easily led.

If you have other tips you’d like to share, leave a comment!

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