by Patricia Hanrahan

Created on: March 27, 2009

Leadership is about who you are as a person.

Leaders are people, and as such lead through the unique blend of cognitive, emotional, social, and physical attributes that make them who they are. The most important cognitive skill, the ability to think critically, is essential to effective leadership. Critical thinkers question their assumptions and explore alternatives. They have the ability to suspend disbelief and to understand context, the underlying patterns and unspoken assumptions that mold others' thinking without their even being aware. This ability to think critically allows the leader to understand his relationships with other people and to devise more productive ways of accomplishing goals.

The ability to manage your emotions is also essential to leadership. All of us have emotional weaknesses that can become a problem if we fail to maintain self-control. For some it is anger, for others anxiety or impatience. Mary, a mid-level manager, used to interrupt others frequently, assuming that she knew what people were saying and jumping to finish their thought or respond before they could completely convey their message. This caused two problems: first, her constant interruptions were interpreted as arrogance a lack of respect, thus alienating other people; and second, her assumptions were sometimes very wrong. Mary sensed that she had little influence with her peers and that they maintained a distance with her, but she was not able understand how her behavior was causing the problem until her mentor pointed it out. Now Mary is practicing effective listening behavior, giving conscious thought to controlling her impatience and working to gain the trust and acceptance of her colleagues.

To manage your emotions, you must understand yourself and maintain a self-awareness that allows you to see how your actions impact others. Improving your emotional control will enhance your credibility as a leader, and the more you show positive emotions, the more likely it is that you will positively influence those around you. 3

You must be capable of empathizing with other people and of understanding their motivations. A true leader supports other people. He leads them toward a common goal, not driving them, not coercing them, but rather involves them in the process of achieving the goal. The people are important. They are more important than the project and even more important than the goal. And, if you take care of the people, the people will take care of the goal.

Physical capacity for leadership provides you with the energy needed for endurance of stress, sleep deprivation, tight schedules, constant activity, and extensive responsibility. The physical demands on a leader can be intense, so the more physically fit you are, the better you will be able to handle a heavy load. To avoid burnout, you need resilience as well as endurance. Taking time to rest between obligations is critical, and being in good physical condition makes it easier for you to snap back. Equally important, leaders who are healthy and in shape are generally viewed as more competent.

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