CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
I have often been asked what I think makes a good leader. By definition, the word leader can be defined as "a person who leads, directs, commands or guides a group or activity." If you take the simplest form of the word leader, you are left with lead. Lead is defined as "to act as a guide" or "to guide."
I thought about the many attributes that make someone a good leader and tried to pick just a few to discuss in this article. Believe me when I tell you it was no easy task. The list of qualities that make a good leader is seemingly endless, but I chose the four that stood out to me, and incidentally, form the word LEAD.
The first is loyalty. You cannot build or gather loyalty. It must be given to you freely by those you lead. More than that, loyalty is a value that earns the trust of your subordinates. Loyalty is something you expect from your people but is a two-way street. Remember your people expect the same loyalty from you. If you break that loyalty, you risk losing their trust and that can take a long time to get back.
The second is enthusiasm. How do you get someone to do something they don't want to do? Enthusiasm! A good leader is enthusiastic about their work and also about their role as a leader. Leaders must believe in the goals and objectives of the team and it must be visible to all involved. Enthusiasm provides the inspiration and motivation subordinates use to tackle their jobs with a sense of ownership. Get excited about the task you're assigning. Emphasize its importance and get out in front. Enthusiasm is contagious -- if your people see you excited and ready to go, they'll get excited too.
Third is attitude. Attitude is everything! In the movie "Remember the Titans," the team captain was expressing to the co-captain his disappointment in the teams' attitude during practice. The co-captain's response to him was "Attitude reflects leadership." Like anything, the attitude of the team is a direct reflection of the attitude of the leader, and the standards by which the leader holds them. A positive attitude, like enthusiasm, is contagious. In fact, you can't have one without the other. A leader's positive attitude will inspire and motivate subordinates to achieve the same demeanor.
The last one is dependability. Can you be depended on? The meaning seems clear enough. Subordinates must be able to depend on their leaders to manage a given situation and perform the duties associated with their positions. Those being led need leaders who are genuinely concerned for the welfare of those they are leading. They need mentors. Leaders do not have jobs to which they come and then leave. They must be dependable ... all the time.
These are just a few of the many attributes that make up a good leader. We, as leaders, have a great responsibility to our Airmen. It is not enough for us to harness their energy and guide them in their endeavors. We must provide capable leadership and demonstrate strength and character in our daily lives. Never forget that we are the example they will use to shape their own leadership skills.