Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative

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.

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

1. Fair – No favouritism, evaluations (appraisals& reviews)
2. Knowledge – Of job, smart, on policy & procedure, what’s expected of them
3. Honesty
4. Communication – Open, Effective, Know When To Speak, Good Interpersonal Skills
5. Decisions – Make one, quick, good, tough, does right thing,
6. Involve Troops (people), standing behind decisions, shares it
7. Consistency
8. Experience – street minimum 5-10 years, earned their way
9. Support – growth, officers, personal & professional develop
10. Trust – Belief in officers, is trustworthy themselves
11. Integrity
12. Common Sense
13. Flexibility
14. Respect – Treats officers (teams/ people) with, earns it themselves
15. Approachability

Top Negative Leadership Traits

1. Micro Manage – Does
2. Favouritism – Friendship first, plays them
3. Selfish – Self-centred, self-serving, self-promoting
4. Indecisive – Second guessing
5. Inconsistent – Shift priorities
6. Knowledge – Pretend to know everything, never wrong, not of job, know-it-all
7. Decisions – Not making any, emotional, inability to make any
8. Vindictive
9. Communication – Poor, non-communicator, dishonest
10. Hypocritical – “Do as I say, not as I do”
11. Close Minded – Not open to suggestions, won’t change mind
12. Dishonest
13. Discipline – Selective, more concerned with, group vs. individual, double standards, name calling, not recognition, heavy handed
14. Inexperience
15. 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.