Idea 70: Leadership qualities

I cannot hear what you say, because what you are is shouting at me.

Zulu proverb

Exercise

Take some paper and make a list of the five or six qualities expected in those working in your field.

Check your list out with your colleagues.

Having done this exercise many times – for example with production workers, sales staff, nurses, engineers and accountants – I don't expect you to find it too difficult. Notice that words may vary – ‘hard-working’ and ‘industrious’, for example – but the concepts of the traits, qualities or abilities remain the same.

These qualities are necessary for you to be a leader, but they are not in themselves sufficient to make you be seen as one. For example, you cannot be a military leader ...

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