No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself, or to get all the credit for doing it. Andrew Carnegie
What makes a great leader great? This question has fascinated me for years. As a young adult, I delved into biographies and historical accounts of successful people, hoping to uncover the secret ingredients that make a successful leader. But as I discovered, there is no silver bullet. Rather, great leadership is the combination of countless big and small things.
There Is No Silver Bullet To Become a Great Leader
Reading a large number of biographies showed me that successful people are unique in their approach. They have their own personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and environments. Some are reserved, some are charismatic, some are chaotic, and some love order. Some lead from the front, while others play a quiet but effective role in the background. Some have a trajectory that looks like inflation, while others have paths that can only be described as a roller coaster. I quickly realised that searching for clear causalities between specific actions and traits and their success was not the right approach, and it left me feeling disappointed.
Leadership is about…
As I matured, I learned from my observations of others, including my own behavior, that there isn’t a specific formula for leadership. There’s no magic formula, no single action, or trait that guarantees successful leadership.
Rather, by observing great leaders, those whom I respect and admire, I came to the conclusion that good leadership is a combination of many things, big and small, that can be difficult to identify. Since everyone is unique and every environment and situation is different, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact combination of ingredients for effective leadership. Instead, it’s a mindset and a commitment to empower yourself and those around you to achieve clear goals, whatever they may be.
Mindsets and Commitments of Great Leaders
Some key mindsets and consistent commitments of great leaders I’ve worked with are:
- Learning and Growth: Great leaders are constantly learning and growing. They have a growth mindset that allows them to adapt to different situations and needs.
- Perseverance: Great leaders have endurance in their chosen field and pathway. They make the most of favorable opportunities and fight through bad times.
- Talented Team: No great object can be achieved alone. Great leaders surround themselves with talented people who help them grow and push them to the next level.
- Purpose: Great leaders have a clear purpose that drives them and others around them to engage in a meaningful way towards a common goal.
I’m still on my journey to understand what a great leader is. But by observing and learning from others, I’ve come to realize that great leadership is not about one specific action or trait. It is my hope that by continuing to ask this question, to observe and learn from others and when the opportunities happen for me to apply what I have learned to action.
