The Commanding Traits of Great Leaders
By George Carralejo
For the past twenty years, I have had the unique opportunity to be surrounded by some of the greatest leaders in the worlds of business and sports. The words “leader” and “coach” should be used interchangeably if the person is approaching their position in the most complete way. A coach should always be a leader, and leaders should always be coaching their team, as this is the only way to achieve consistent improvement and for the team to feel they are growing at the individual level.
One of the easiest things anyone can recognize is whether one is being led by an excellent leader. Time after time in my career, I have been able to make quick, accurate judgments about a leader’s capacity to be successful. Michael Lombardi, former NFL GM, who has worked with Super Bowl winning coaches Bill Belichick and Bill Walsh, uses these five traits to establish what makes an excellent leader.
Command of the Room – The team needs something and someone to commit to. The leader must understand how to gain the confidence of his team. If a leader has presence, exudes confidence, and can clearly lay out his vision for success, the team will have the confidence to follow. The best leaders have an uncanny ability to make a team believe in both the plan and their own individual capabilities. It will always be much easier for a team to believe in the plan if they first believe in the man.
Command of the Message – The team needs to be able to visualize the plan. In order for them to do that, the leader must be able to communicate the message clearly, articulately, and with confidence. The leader should be prepared to offer specific details and deliver a message in a way that allows the team to see a clear path to success.
Command of Self – Before you can lead others, you must be able to lead yourself. Personal accountability is an excellent sign of strength. The self-discipline to do the right things and embody the behaviors you preach as a leader are paramount to success. Excessive ego and lack of accountability are traits of low-character leaders, and low-character leaders are doomed to failure.
Command of the Opportunity – Successful leaders have prepared themselves for the opportunity. They didn’t start thinking about the position when they were promoted to it; they have been planning and thinking situationally about their approach for years. Nothing happens on the fly; the responsibilities have been strategized down to the details. As Sun Tzu stated, “Every battle is won before it is fought.”
Command of the Process – Great leaders are consistent with their words and behaviors. They don’t succumb to high highs or low lows; instead, they have confidence that their plan will ultimately prevail, if they trust their process. Consistent actions and behavior give a team confidence in both the leader and the plan.
Great leaders are always getting better. They know that the competition is always trying to catch them, so great leaders respond by consistently self-evaluating, making necessary adjustments, and looking for ways to improve their approach. Ultimately, it’s the leader’s confidence, preparation, and self-belief that leads to their sustained success.
George Carralejo
