Whether you’re the owner of an Inland Empire company, you’re a manager of a department, or you’re just getting started at a company and you want to work your way up to a leadership position, you should start – according to an October 2012 blog post at Forbes.com – cultivating (or growing) the following three traits:
- Motive
- Passion
- Spontaneity
These are the traits for great political leaders the author writes. They’re also, he adds, “good descriptors for anyone who aspires to lead other people.”
Let’s take a look at each of the three traits one at a time.
Motive is the “why of your life and why you want to be in charge of other people’s lives,” according to the author. After all, leaders of companies – and even departments within those companies – are the individuals who can make or break an employee’s future. Leaders decide when layoffs must occur. Leaders decide who gets promoted or fired. This is an astounding position to be in. Think through carefully the reason(s) you want to move into a leadership position.
Passion is “the fire you project,” according to the article. You need to feel that passion about your work, about your company, your department, your products, your employees. You need to communicate this passion constantly to employees, third-party vendors and customers. Sure, it sounds a tad Pollyanna-ish to be such a cheerleader about every aspect of your business, but if a leader isn’t passionate about his or her company or services, than how can he or she expect employees to get excited themselves?
Spontaneity “really comes down to mental agility,” according to the author. Yes, this includes the proverbial ability to “think on your feet,” but it’s also the ability to make hard choices (which you’ll have to make at least once in your career when in a leadership position).
It’s best to have all three traits. Passionate people who don’t have the right purpose can come across as blowhards. Individuals who can make those hard decisions can make the wrong ones without the proper motives.
If you’re gunning for a leadership position at some point in your career, how much of these three traits do you believe you possess? How many does your boss exhibit?
If you believe you’re ready to move up to a management or executive position, contact a recruiter at Arrow Staffing. We can discuss your career goals with you and then help you find great companies to approach. Contact us today.