21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Thoughts & Comments
Just like how these 21 Indispensable Qualities are more important than other qualities, some of the 21 mentioned carry more weight than the others.
Being that the human brain can only focus well on one thing at a time, and most people struggle to keep more than three topics afloat at once, I have found stack ranking lists to be a helpful practice.
Good things lead to other good things. A high aptitude in any of the 21 qualities could certainly lead to one mastering any of the others. Even the qualities I personally ranked the lowest, if diligently pursued, would rend the others. Many of the qualities are subsets of a higher axiom.
For example, why was Alexander so Great? His time with Aristotle, mastering many of life’s most indispensable qualities as a youth transformed no less then everything about him both during his training and for the rest of his life. The wisdom of Aristotle shaped his decision-making in the immediacy of the battlefield, even in such a granular a way as to affect the way Alexander swung a sword, AND how he navigated the swamp waters of politics, setting up infrastructure & cities whose legacy still impacts our lives today. All mastery compliments all mastery. Who you call teacher throughout your life might be the most important decision you make.
From where I sit, two of these qualities mentioned in the book are chief among the rest.
Courage & Character
I rank Courage and Character the highest because they most quickly produce all the other qualities on the list. Even with nothing else, they lead to discernment and vision; once added, these two accelerate the growth of the rest. Tack on discipline and passion and the remaining 15 will be yours before you know it.
Even the qualities I ranked the lowest are powerful linchpins. If someone were focused, teachable, and generous, in time, they would stand before you a courageous visionary.
I stack ranked the 21 qualities based upon my experience and in reflection of leaders who accelerated the trajectory of human thriving.
Under each Tier, I have a pair of qualities separated into categories A, B & C.
a. This is who you are/have trained yourself to be; this is how others see you when you walk into the room.
b. These are the qualities necessary to accomplish the work you are tasked to do.
c. These qualities fuel, calibrate, and hone the qualities above them.
Tier 1
a. Courage & Character
b. Discernment & Vision
c. Self-discipline & Passion
Tier 2
a. Charisma & Servanthood
b. Competence & Initiative
c. Commitment & Responsibility
Tier 3
a. Relationships & Security
b. Problem-Solving & Positive Attitude
c. Listening & Communication
Leader in Training.
Focus, Teachable, Generous
But what is missing?
Disruption.
If you are doing the same thing over and over, you don’t need a leader. If you keep doing the same thing, someone else who wantonly invades the unknown will unseat you from whatever position you find yourself in.
Disruption is poison to the bureaucrat and all those who rest on their laurels. Disruption is the way of the free market and free man. It is one of the most important leadership traits, a trait broadly neglected in this book.
Tier 1: Should be the ownership team, C-Suite, and key leaders up and down the business hierarchy. This group should be focused on honing the qualities of Tier 1, then 2, then 3.
Tier 2: The upper management team and other key stakeholders should possess the qualities of Tier 2. This group should be focused on mastering the qualities of Tier 2, then 1, then 3.
Tier 3: Qualities of a frontline leader. This group should be focused on the qualities of Tier 3, then 2, then 1.
The leader in training should be focused on the three listed and then Tiers 3-2-1.
Courage & Character >
Hold Tension, Be Vast.Remember, restoration alone brings victory.