What defines an exceptional leader

Leadership is a theme that has and will continue to fascinate business people due to its imprecise, changing, ephemeral and elusive definition.

We all know it when we see it, but how do we incorporate leadership traits into our character and daily actions?

Exceptional Leaders must:
Create – A leader will create or promote an idea, a concept, or an ideology. They will concentrate and focus the group’s attention on goals and objectives. They provide a strategy and plan on how to achieve the goals.

Provide Resources – Leaders will provide the resources required to get the job done. These might be physical items (tools and equipment, technical and administrative assistance) or psychological resources (education and understanding, motivation, clear plans and objectives).

Sustain and Assist Growth – Leaders will modify and adapt to changing circumstances and environments. They will be attentive to the needs, opportunities and challenges that face their people and move quickly to support them.

Provide Closure – Leaders know when to end the campaign. They know when and how to gracefully finish and walk away from victories and lost causes, while maintaining the loyalty and motivation of their people.

Give it away
Steve Farber provided a thought provoking piece on a characteristic of leaders and leadership Greater than Yourself which puts forth the concept that great leaders are selfless and strive for nothing more than to make others greater than themselves.

He addresses the idea that a truly great leader gives away the information, contacts and resources that helped them into the leadership position. This in turn creates a new generation who build on this knowledge and experience. Through this mentoring they become greater leaders than their teachers.

In order for this to succeed the leader must be aware that they are creating and sharing in a goal well beyond selfishness and ego enhancement. They have to be willing to give without expecting anything in return (belief in a greater good) and to be supremely confident in their actions and the people around them. Steve calls this type of leader a “creator of masters”.