Top Leadership Traits – Positive and negative

What are the top 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. This data was analysed and rated by frequency of mention by other officers. The top 15 positive and negative mentioned are listed below.

While not all of us work in a police force, I am sure that having looked through the list (top positives) many of us would include much of these in our list of preferred leadership traits too. I for one have been frustratd 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 – Believe 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

Taking 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.

5 personal qualities of a leader

1. Authenticity
2. Integrity
3. Will
4. Self-belief
5. Self-awareness

Malcolm Higgs

Five rare signs of a leader

1. Walks the talk
2. See strengths
3. Approaches others with unconditional positive self regard
4. Positively influences conversations and relationships
5. Creates an appreciative context

Malone

Five skills for real leadership

1. Difficult learning
2. Maximising energy
3. Resonant simplicity
4. Multiple focus
5. Mastering inner sense

White, Hodgson and Crainer

The big five leadership personality factors

1. Extroversion
2. Agreeableness
3. Conscientiousness
4. Emotional stability
5. Openness to experience

Stuart Tubbs

Five indicators of leadership

1. Predicting
2. Visioning
3. Assessing
4. Designing
5. Communicating

Valarie Washington

Nine things Tom Peters sees in leaders, that they are…

1. Manipulative
2. Symbol-conscious
3. Dictatorial about the dream
4. Narrow-minded
5. Punitive
6. Mistrustful
7. Wily
8. Power mad
9. Performance-minded

Tom Peters

Six characteristics most admired in leaders

1. Honesty
2. Forward looking
3. Inspiring
4. Competence
5. Fair-minded
6. Supportive

Kouzes and Posner

Six dimensions of leadership

Six dimensions of leadership

1. Vision and articulation
2. Sensitivity to member needs
3. Unconventional behaviour
4. Taking personal risks
5. Environmental sensitivity
6. Not maintaining the status quo

Eight negative leadership characteristics

Eight negative leadership characteristics

1. Unreliable
2. Untrustworthy
3. Uncooperative
4. Irresponsible
5. Lazy
6. Inefficient
7. Disloyal
8. No potential

Seven quantum skills for leaders

Seven quantum skills for leaders

a. Seeing – seeing intentionally
b. Thinking – thinking paradoxically
c. Knowing – knowing intuitively
d. Feeling – feeling vitally alive
e. Acting – acting responsibly
f. Trusting – trusting life’s process
g. Being – being in relationships

Shelton and Darling

Four leadership types

Four leadership types

1. Directive
2. Supportive
3. Participative
4. Achievement oriented

Brown and Thornborrow

Eight leadership ‘must have’

 

1. Makes it happen and sees it through
2. Leads for performance
3. Champions team working
4. Builds and delivers the vision
5. Creates a learning culture
6. Pioneers new approaches
7. Enables a culture of open communication
8. Focuses on customers