What Good Leaders And Good Employees Have In Common

Forbes

3 days ago

Megan Leasher is an award-winning organizational psychologist and talent enthusiast, enjoying the in-between. getty
I've read countless books on leadership in my career. I'm sure you have, too. They are inspirational and aspirational and contain great nuggets of advice to apply. Yet when I read about the leadership characteristics they purport to lead to greatness, I often find myself thinking, 'Well, wouldn't this be a good quality for an employee to have as well?' In fact, when I think about the good leaders I've worked for and good employees I have worked with, I notice many things they have in common.
Below are three traits that good leaders and good employees share.
Good leaders and employees aren't afraid of a challenge. In fact, they welcome it. It's the energy that fuels their fire. When I think of ways good leaders and employees fear less, here are things that come to mind.
• They're direct. Fearless leaders and employees offer their wisdom unabashedly. They deliver tough news swiftly and directly, being honest even—and especially—when it hurts. They also understand the importance of making moves for the greater good of other teams or departments.
• They listen. They ask tough questions, and they're truly eager for the response. They want to hear what's on others' minds so they can be in the know. This quality allows them to determine when to pivot efforts, if needed. Wanting to be their best selves, these professionals also welcome constructive feedback and want to be called out when they're wrong or misinformed.
• They're committed. Good leaders and employees commit to clear objectives and the approach to achieving them. They leap into hard work, embracing the path of ambiguity and fully aware that obstacles will surface. They push boundaries and challenge the rules when warranted.
• They're accountable. They admit when they don't have all of the answers, and they strive to surround themselves with those who do. They say 'I'm wrong' and 'I made a mistake' without prompting. They welcome accountability and the opportunity to course-correct. They Connect More
Good leaders and employees depend on each other and thrive in togetherness. They surround themselves with the right people and tend to those relationships with care. Good leaders and employees connect more in the following ways.
• They're actively engaged. They make time for regular touch points and communication. They seek to be a part of a greater whole, being in the spirit of a team. They keep an external pulse via networking, benchmarking and always knowing the competitive landscape.
• They're empathetic. Good leaders and employees meet people where they are and empathize with them. They respect and celebrate people's unique gifts, perspectives and experiences. They welcome the pendulum-swinging nature of work/life 'balance' and make sure their relationships are already prioritized.
• They're group-oriented. They establish and preserve a 'we' mentality with shared values and responsibilities. They connect their actions to the larger strategy, always directing efforts toward the greater goal. Most importantly, they check their egos at the door.
• They're service-minded. They are dedicated to true collaboration. In the spirit of fellowship, no task is too small. They give of themselves freely and are committed to each other's successes. They work to make others shine. They Play Often
Good leaders and employees enjoy what they do. Their work is fun because they approach it with a perspective of joy. They also infuse that joy into everyone around them. Here's how good leaders and employees play often.
• They're experimental. They try new things and screw things up. Work is their laboratory and failing is fun because learning has transpired. They encourage others to have fun in the sandbox, where they can build, gain new experiences and set the stage for growth.
• They're creators. Good leaders and employees have a solutions mentality curated by a spirit of imagination. They demonstrate enthusiastic and authentic initiative. They ask 'Why not?' and 'What if?' and are stimulated by the functional art they produce.
• They're innovative. They challenge the current journey and blaze new trails. They disrupt for the better. They normalize change and demand healthy change management to get everyone on board and ready for greatness.
• They're good-natured. They laugh. They're silly. They don't take themselves too seriously and can easily laugh at themselves. They know that there are moments in hard work where laughter truly is the best medicine.
Good leaders seem to get all the attention and often all of the credit, but without incredible employees, greatness isn't possible. It's the intersection of these groups that creates the building blocks for a magical team. So the next time you're reading an article or a book about what makes a great leader, I challenge you to ask yourself, 'Would that also make a great employee?'
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