Two Leadership Traits Never Talked About... (especially during this presidential election)

During this hot political time leadership is talked about often as our country scrutinizes and compares presidential candidates hoping to choose the best leader.  I love the idea however that being a leader is less about position, experience, or title and more about actions, attitude, and behaviors.  Leaders are everywhere and come from all walks of life and are often not the people we presume to be leaders.  And yes, each of us has the opportunity to be a leader regardless of our station in life. 

There are many qualities that are regularly attributed to leaders however today I’d like to focus on two less talked about attributes that I believe are super important to great leadership.    

Number one is a great leader has self-control.  Having self-control allows a person to stay cool under pressure, manage their emotions, and think logical and rational at all times.  With self-control a person will have the ability to develop good habits and avoid things that diminish one’s ability to lead.  Self-control also allows a person to set a good example for others to follow which is perhaps the most powerful way a leader influences others. Self-control also results in “private victories” that are needed in order to have “public victories”, an idea shared in Stephen R. Covey’s book on the 7 Habits.  At the end of the day, self-control is a crucial quality to being a great leader. 

Number two is love.  I once read in a book about John Wooden that a leader who doesn’t truly love others will turn around one day and find no one is following.  Love matters.  And love for others is leadership in its purest form.  Love is a powerful influencer and can change hearts and minds.  Love makes one sacrifice their own wants and desires for the wants and desires of others or for a cause greater than themselves.  When we love others, truly love others, we lead.

Leadership is all around us in unexpected places.  Though rarely mentioned if at all when discussing leadership, self-control and love are two traits of great leaders.  As we develop as leaders, and look for leaders to lead our country, I believe we need to strongly consider these two qualities.  God bless America!