The Qualities of a Good Leader Are Hard to Hide

BY Tim Londergan
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Have you had the opportunity to follow a manager to support them in their next job? Have you had a new sales manager bring in a support person who became your newest teammate? I’ve had experience with both, and I guarantee these scenarios only work with the steadfast qualities of a good leader.

The qualities of a good leader inspire others

Early in my career, I was fortunate to have a job that I enjoyed and a store manager that appreciated my efforts. Our small retail management team struggled to compete in a new market with larger competitors. Nonetheless, despite our challenges, our leader made each of us feel like champions. We met each day with confidence and celebrated the slightest of wins as a team. As might be expected, our leader was tapped to “work the magic” in another market. Fortunately, I was able to make the move while others reluctantly declined and wished us well. Eventually, I realized that my incentive to relocate was driven as much by my enthusiasm for the qualities of a good leader as the anticipation of a fresh start.

The qualities of a good leader reflect the organization’s culture

Years later, while working with a different company, my sales manager decided to make a career change and return to his family’s business. Reviews on his departure were mixed. Ultimately, the loss was not upsetting. Fortunately, top management reacted quickly, and his replacement arrived within a week – along with her protégé. Surprisingly, making room for a new colleague and settling in with a new leader was easier due to the continuity and flexibility of a good organizational culture.

Samantha Clark backs me on this assertion. Clark wrote “5 Trustworthy Signs of a Healthy Business Organization Structure” for manta​.com. According to Clark, “A well-​defined organizational structure allows for easy and quick problem solving and conflict resolution.” Likewise, the agility and flexibility required to shift managers without disruption of the entire department was commendable. Leadership handled communication and expectations clearly and precisely without a lot of drama. As a result, I found our newest team member had relocated due to the trust and loyalty she felt to our new leader. Consequently, the qualities of a good leader allowed a healthy company to evolve, progress and grow the business.

The qualities of a good leader rub off on the team

A strong sales leader knows how to keep the team on track and focused on winning. According to Steve W. Martin, writing for Harvard Business Review, “Sixty-​nine percent of salespeople who exceeded their annual quota rated their sales manager as being excellent or above average.” Undoubtedly, these top sellers appreciate their leader’s ability to command greater effectiveness from their efforts. Admittedly, observing is not performing. But the first-​hand experience of working with a capable leader can inspire and instruct others to emulate success.

The qualities of a good leader make it hard to leave

According to peoplekeep.com, the cost of replacing employees can amount to between one and two times the cost of the lost worker’s salary. Organizations feel these expenses in both direct and indirect outlays:

  • Separation costs
  • Replacement costs
  • Relocation costs
  • Training costs
  • Lost productivity
  • Reduced morale
  • Lost clients

Therefore, it makes sense for companies to invest in and retain employees. A business with an efficient organizational structure and quality leadership can attract, connect and keep employees. According to Gallup, 34% of workers in the U.S. are “engaged” at work. These workers are cognitively and emotionally connected to their work and their workplace. In a large sense, these are the workers who drive an enterprise to greater heights. These are the workers who will follow the qualities of a good leader to the next assignment. Importantly, these are the workers who appreciate a healthy company culture and organizational structure.

Identify the traits of your team members today

Prospecting success in the new year begins with an assessment of personality traits of your current team. Likewise, you can discover the power of managing and coaching to the strengths of your most valuable asset. In addition, you can quickly gain insight to job candidates and the strengths they possess BEFORE hiring.

Photo by Jehyun Sung on Unsplash


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