The 10 Qualities We Need As Leaders

As leaders, we are presented with opportunities each day to show our skills, to demonstrate our courage, and to sell our vision. We get no days off. We must bring our “A” game every day or else we will disappoint those we lead. It’s a tremendous responsibility to hold — an opportunity we need to cherish. The hard part is not striving for an “A” game performance daily, rather understanding the qualities that are the foundation of any A-game.  

As coaches/teachers, we now have more time on our hands than ever before — time to read, learn, and, most of all, observe. As former New York Yankees Hall-of-Fame catcher and coach Yogi Berra famously once said: “You can see a lot from looking.” And each day, we’ve seen incredible examples of profound leadership from every part of this world. Unfortunately, we’ve seen examples of poor leadership as well. 

With the tables turned, we can now evaluate other leaders during the crisis. We can examine their style, their demeanor, and most importantly, if they are delivering the message we need to hear. Are they showing us the traits we should admire, the courage, the discipline, the vision each day, and not becoming overwhelmed by the volume of work? As difficult as it has been to stay at home during this pandemic, it has created a workshop of leadership teaching for all of us. 

Whenever our leaders step to the podium, 10 things are essential to make us feel safe:

1. Optimism

2. Courage

3. Focus

4. Decisiveness

5. Thoughtfulness

6. Authenticity

7. Empathy

8. Integrity

9. Listening

10. Pursuit of Perfection

These 10 qualities for any leader are not just important during a pandemic — they are vital every single day of our lives. If you’re a grade-school teacher, you need to show your students these qualities each day. If you’re a small-business owner, these 10 become the cornerstone of your business. As a parent, you want to instill these 10 qualities in your children. These 10 are universal at any time of the year. At any moment, they are essential to our life. Without sharpening them regularly or displaying them in every aspect of our leading life, we fall short. These are what make up our “A” game. 

We label this pandemic the COVID-19. It gives us, the A game 10. Remember, through every challenge comes a gift. 

P.S. If you are in search of a book recommendation, our team at The Daily Coach highly recommends What Are Your Blind Spots? Conquering the 5 Misconceptions that Hold Leaders Back by Jim Haudan and Rich Berens. This book identifies the five most common leadership blind spots that hamper success: Purpose, Story, Engagement, Trust, and Truth. Haudan and Berens equip you with the tools needed for a personal leadership reset. You’ll discover how to increase engagement, productivity, and growth in your own organization. This is an invaluable guide for executives, managers, team leaders, and human resource professionals looking for an effective way to engage and motivate employees at every level of an organization.

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