Because I What are the Top Leadership Traits we look for in our leaders?
While looking for some material for a forthcoming leadership development programme, I discovered an interesting article and results on top leadership traits. In 2006 in Minneapolis Police Department undertook some research looking at Leadership Traits in their officers. The analysis of the data shows frequency of mention by other officers. The top 15 positive and negative traits mentioned are listed below.
Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative
While not all of us work in a police force, Because of what is in the list (top positives) I know that many of us would include these in our list of preferred leadership traits too. I for one have been frustrated by leaders that exhibited some from the top negative traits – have you?
Top Positive Leadership Traits
- Fair – No favouritism, evaluations (appraisals& reviews)
- Knowledge – Of job, smart, on policy & procedure, what’s expected of them
- Honesty
- Communication – Open, Effective, Know When To Speak, Good Interpersonal Skills
- Decisions – Make one, quick, good, tough, does right thing,
- Involve Troops (people), standing behind decisions, shares it
- Consistency
- Experience – street minimum 5-10 years, earned their way
- Support – growth, officers, personal & professional develop
- Trust – Belief in officers, is trustworthy themselves
- Integrity
- Common Sense
- Flexibility
- Respect – Treats officers (teams/ people) with, earns it themselves
- Approachability
Top Negative Leadership Traits
- Micro Manage – Does
- Favouritism – Friendship first, plays them
- Selfish – Self-centred, self-serving, self-promoting
- Indecisive – Second guessing
- Inconsistent – Shift priorities
- Knowledge – Pretend to know everything, never wrong, not of job, know-it-all
- Decisions – Not making any, emotional, inability to make any
- Vindictive
- Communication – Poor, non-communicator, dishonest
- Hypocritical – “Do as I say, not as I do”
- Close Minded – Not open to suggestions, won’t change mind
- Dishonest
- Discipline – Selective, more concerned with, group vs. individual, double standards, name calling, not recognition, heavy handed
- Inexperience
- Responsibility – Not taking, shirks it
Because of this list if we take the time to ask our people what traits they like and dislike in their leaders can be a valuable first step in any leadership development programme.
Leah MacVie says
05/12/2009 at 14:06RT @rapidbi: Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative https://rapidbi.com/2009/11/top-leadership-traits-positive-and …
Stephanie Windsor says
05/12/2009 at 10:20RT @rapidbi: Top Leadership Traits –
HelenCharters says
23/11/2009 at 10:01RT @rapidbi: Blog post – What are the top traits we look for in our leaders?
Betty says
23/11/2009 at 04:01Great article! It’s important to understand what works and what doesn’t work…I especially like to the list of “Top Negative Leadership Traits”. We can learn from others experiences. I’m reading an interesting book about leadership called
“Words for Warriors” by Ralph Puckett. Solid story-telling combined with hard-earned wisdom makes this one of the best books on leadership that I have ever read. It contains the crucial elements of leadership success and the tools to inspire others to achieve superior results.
Here’s a link if you’re interested: http://www.ralphpuckett.com/words-for-warriors/
mdgibson says
10/11/2009 at 02:40List of Positive and Negative Leadership Skills:
Spencer Mains says
09/11/2009 at 22:14RT @tweetmeme Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative
Todd Williams says
09/11/2009 at 19:39TR @ahoojas Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative #leadership
Paula Jones MCT says
09/11/2009 at 15:55RT @Rapidbi Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative: What are the top traits we look for..
Gary Gorman says
09/11/2009 at 14:51RT@rapidbi Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative: What are the top traits we look for i..
rapidbi says
09/11/2009 at 14:25Hi Julia, is influencing a skill or a trait?
Mike
Julia says
09/11/2009 at 09:58Great list of traits. Today I am reading John Maxwells book the 21 Irrefutable Laws of leadership. He talks about Influence being another trait that all leaders have. We can all strive to become better leaders.
thanks for the list.
Ngui Yuen Loong says
09/11/2009 at 08:37Good stuff. RT @rapidbi: NEW Blog article- Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative