Traits and Me

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” –JFK

Leadership is not one size fits it; it is not black and white; and it is not for everyone. Some people are natural born leaders, while others are a result of their life’s lessons and experiences. Within each leader resides a set of key values/traits that are the basis for their philosophy and play a significant role in how they present their teachings to others.

When I think of leadership, I immediately refer back to some of the best people I’ve worked for – that in my eyes were not managers, but true leaders. A few traits that I believe to be true about leaders and ironically these leaders I refer to are passionate, knowledgeable, and curious.

Being passionate about what you do is a 15 out of 10 on the importance scale. Passion is contagious, and everyone can sense it within someone when they are truly passionate about what they do. Passion in the smallest things, whether its food, little details, or sharing knowledge inspires others to want to find their passion(s) and make others feel the same way leaders make themselves feel.

Being knowledgeable is essential when being a leader in any field. You need to have the right tools mentally, and know you have the right tools physically for success. Without knowledge, you can’t offer your subordinates the ability to grow. Without knowledge, you will be unable to lead your team to success or know if you are leading them in the right direction. But knowledge does not come out of thin air! Knowledge is learned and developed over time – this is where curiosity plays its role.

Being curious is necessary in a few different ways. For those leaders that do not have the tools for success inherently, they must have the curiosity to learn and develop their skills. On the other side of the coin for those that do have the tools, it is imperative a leader always stays curious to learn more. Our world is constantly changing, sometimes faster than we can keep up with. So the old saying is true, nobody is a know-it-all. And one of the best ways for a leader to learn is to learn from their subordinates.