Vital Traits Required in a Leader
by Dr. Lisa Turner (United Kingdom)
What Makes a Great Leader?
Jenny stepped into her new office. She walked past her new team. As they exchanged their morning greetings she realised something was different. They were all a little standoffish. Had she said or done something to upset them?
As she walked into her new office, putting her things down and sitting in her chair she realised with a slight shock.
I’m now their boss!
I’m no longer their pal!
As she settled into reading her inbox and checking the slack channels, she found invitations to meetings, and stand ups. The kind that she had never been privy to before. The kind she and her pals had speculated over what actually went on in them, or moaned about the decisions made there.
Now she was invited. And expected to participate, present, report and engage.
She suddenly felt lost and overwhelmed.
The excitement and exhilaration of her new promotion was now fading into overwhelm and fear.
What was worse, in the past, she would chat to one of her pals about it, letting off steam, clarifying her thoughts, strategising ways of coping and managing the work and people.
But now her old pals were her direct reports, and she didn’t know her new colleagues well enough yet to ask for help. She was terrified of letting anyone know she felt out of her depth.
Jenny took a deep breath in and sighed. Jenny needed a coach!
Leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept. It can take many forms, from charismatic and visionary to analytical and strategic. The environment, culture and values of the organisation are also a factor. Traits that are essential to success in one organisation can spell disaster in another.
Leading companies worldwide recognise the value of leadership coaching and are even developing in-house stables of coaches. Leadership coaching helps newly promoted managers ease the transition from being an employee to a leader, focusing on coaching managers and executives on the issues that come with managing people, including leadership development.
One of the most significant advantages of executive coaching is the development of leadership traits. All leaders have their individual strengths and talents and all leaders can grow through conscious effort and continuous self-development. Executive coaching can provide the guidance, feedback, and support needed for leaders to develop their skills and competencies. Here are some of the ways in which executive coaching can help leaders develop the traits necessary for effective leadership:
- Vision
Executive coaches can help leaders develop a clear vision of where they want to take their organisation or team. Through guided self-reflection and analysis of business trends and challenges, leaders can refine their vision and communicate it effectively to their followers. Executive coaching also helps leaders align their personal values with their organisation’s mission, ensuring that their vision is authentic and compelling.
Source: iCN Issue 41 (Leadership Coaching); pages 24-26
About Dr. Lisa Turner
Dr. Lisa Turner is the creator of Conscious Emotional Transformation (CET) coaching. Her CETfreedom approach combines neuroscience, mindfulness, and coaching to develop conscious leaders who use their emotions as a power source.
