Ten Traits of Leaders I Recognize in Practice
Leadership is not a title. It is a pattern of choices. I recognize these ten traits every time.
Ten Traits of Leaders I Recognize in Practice
Titles give you power. Leadership is something people give you through their follow.
I have seen many leaders. Some had a title and no following. Some had no title and an entire country behind them. The difference does not lie in what formally appears on the namecard.
The first trait: they ask questions for which they do not know the answer. Not as rhetoric. Genuinely do not know. They say: this is the problem, what do you see that I don't? This is not weakness. This is the opposite of pretending-we-know.
The second: they keep their speeches short. They say what needs saying and stop. They understand that every word after the first words weakens the first words. Verbose leaders do not believe in what they say.
The third: they admit when they were wrong. Not as excuse, not as "I was still learning." They say: this was wrong. This was a bad choice. We are going to do this differently. Then it stops. No reputation repair.
The fourth: they do the hardest thing first. They do not work around problems. They know that going around costs energy. Direct through is faster and more honest.
The fifth: they treat assistants equal to board members. Not performatively. Genuinely. A clean line between straightforward and formally structured. They understand that authority does not come from distance, from clarity.
The sixth: they recognize talent before it manifests. They see potential and say it aloud. They give people permission to take themselves seriously.
The seventh: they defend their people outward and hold them accountable inward. Not the reverse. They understand that loyalty is two-way.
The eighth: they keep their word when it costs. Not when it is free. Everyone keeps their word when it is free. Leaders keep it also when it costs.
The ninth: they know when to leave. They do not stay to protect their name. They say: someone else needs this, not me. This is hard.
The tenth: they are not afraid of good people around them. Many leaders surround themselves with mediocrity. True leaders say: you are smarter than me, come along. This requires not insecurity, but certainty.
What I see is that none of these traits have to do with toughness. They are all about honesty, speed, and trust. About taking up less space yourself so others can be bigger.
Sources: Observation of leadership behavior in public and private sector; Alexander den Heijer & Mark van Os, Aiki-method; Kouzes & Posner, The Leadership Challenge.
Source: Observation of leaders in public sector and business; Aiki-method (Jacob Huibers)