Do You Know What Traits You Want in a Leader?
Source: David Maister, Professional Business, Professional Life
David Maister has developed a tool that forces people to choose characteristics and qualities desired in a leader. The tool is valuable for promoting intelligent debate on what the firm really wants in its leaders. The process is premised on the idea that we often desire our leaders to have characteristics that may conflict with each other. For example, we may want a leader who is decisive as well as consultative, though those traits may not be found in the same person. Maister presents a long list of traits that may conflict with each other, then asks you to rate the desirability of one versus the other. Here are selected choices presented in the tool. They have been abbreviated, and we recommend you read the complete list by clicking on the link below.
Rate each of the following on a scale of 1 to 4, indicating how much more or less desirable the first quality is versus the second:
1 = Much more
2 = A little more
3 = A little less
4 = Much less
Do you want the leader to be someone who:
| First Quality | Second Quality |
Rating 1-4 |
| Works inside the firm | Works with clients and market | |
| Has strong ideas | Seeks views of others | |
| Believes in big changes—higher risk | Believes in small changes—lower risk | |
| Is a good business person | Has strong character | |
| Confronts problems early | Avoids conflict | |
| Is a business developer | Is a people manager | |
| Acts quickly | Acts deliberatively | |
| Is decisive | Is consultative | |
| Manages people directly | Works through others | |
| Behaves rationally | Behaves emotionally | |
| Behaves as a peer | Behaves clearly as the leader | |
| Is a high-profile person | Promotes high profile in others | |
| Displays high self-confidence | Displays humility | |
| Already knows where the firm should go | Will develop these ideas later | |
| Is pragmatic | Is visionary | |
| Is tough | Is soft | |
| Wants to get things done | Wants to do things right | |
| Is an introvert | Is an extrovert | |
| Thinks short term | Thinks long term | |
| Works hard | Lives a balanced life | |
| Is sympathetic to personal problems | Will not tolerate underperformance | |
| Trusts others | Is not easily duped | |
| Is hands-on and involved in details | Sets direction and demands accountability |
After circulating the questionnaire, tabulate the results and use them in a discussion session. The discussion can focus on areas in which there was no consensus and may result in consensus on many issues that were previously disparate. After completing this, the questionnaire can be redistributed for a second, then perhaps a third, round.
From David Maister—Professional Business, Professional Life, http://davidmaister.com. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://davidmaister.com/articles/1/104/.