TAKE THE ABC OF LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE!

The ABC of Leadership is a collaborative effort from members of the People Development Magazine  Group on Linkedin.  If you’d like to join in, take the ABC of Leadership  Challenge!  More details at the end of the post! This compilation demonstrates the breadth of leadership aspects we must consider.

The ABC of Leadership is brainstorming or a broad piece of thinking with contributions from leading experts across the world.  We hope you enjoy reading the nuanced entries contained within the ABC of Leadership and enjoy thinking out of the box!

A is for:

Ability – to see that which is not yet apparent to the human eyes. Leading from the heart knowing that it is all up to you – Maria Martinez

Abundance – when you realize the abundance of all existence, your reach goes far beyond the ordinary. It’s in that space that brilliance happens – Kristi Johnson

Accessible – Don’t just say “My door is always open”. In fact, don’t even say it because people hear something very different –  John Ainsley

Accountable – Not only are the people being led accountable to the leader; but the leader is also accountable to those they lead. It’s mutual accountability that is very important to achieve a viable, engaged team – Karen Rhodes

A – A is for authenticity, being true to oneself, To lead with honesty and integrity, and never compromising on wealth. – From The ABC of Leadership

Achievement-focused – A good leader leads his team to achieve and get results – Claudia Crawley

Achievement – A leader achieves best by helping others to achieve – Paul Hemphill

Achiever –   one goes above and all to succeed know that the Living God has put something unique in you – Michelle Joe

Action – Aspiration, Ability will not take us anywhere, until we initiate, maintain and increase the pace. We need to be goal-orientated – Seshagiri Rao K

Actions – Good leaders recognise that people believe what they do, not what they say – David Hain

Activating – A leader doesn’t just give speeches to make you feel good about yourself. The activating leader compels people to action, causes movement, and inspires activity – Matt S. Law

Acute listening – A leader understands the power of listening to their followers & peers and the importance of silence –  Liz McGrory

Adventurous – A true leader needs to look beyond the easy and comfortable into the exciting and risky if he is going to inspire greatness – Rev Daniel Partiss

Alignment – What makes a leader great is an alignment with the aspirations of those being led. If you think someone is going to get you where you want to go, you will happily follow. If it feels intuitively wrong, you will resist. A good leader taps into people’s aspirations, visions and goals –  Peter Johnston

Allow – others to shine – Carleton W Moten

Alphabet    – A leader is an architect of the vision, he is the first person everyone looks in the direction to accomplish their goal – Farhan Liaquat

Altrupreneur – One who leads an enterprise with conspicuous regard for all stakeholders – Bernie Nagle

Ambition – An enterprise’s ultimate objective that provides the meaning and sense of direction to inspire people to contribute maximum discretionary effort – Huw Morris

Analyze  – whether your most essential assets are anything other than your employees. If not, change your thinking – David Mills

Anticipate – the Leader is connected and engaged, therefore having access to ideas, suggestions, initiatives, and solutions from throughout the organization to “future proof” the business against threats both seen and unseen –  Frank Nance

Anyone – Leaders are not the top person in the company, your boss or your Six Sigma or Lean expert. You can lead from the bottom, just as easily as from the top. It is about personal skills, not company hierarchy – Peter Johnston

Apathy – A leader shows the perils of doing nothing. Creating Kotter’s Burning Platform. They create an impetus and urgency to make change happen. They cut through the “Business as Usual” apathy to make change an imperative – Peter Johnston

Appreciative – Leaders are appreciative of the success of their team and for individuals to pursue beyond their boundaries of capacity – Joris Claeys

Approachable- a leader is someone who others feel confident and comfortable talking to – Helen Arnold-Richardson

Arc – The leader takes others on a journey. Within this group arc, each person will have their own trajectory of achievement and growth. The arc we follow, and the choices we make, are as important as the destination – David Jones

Articulating the vision – The good leader must be able to clearly articulate to their teams what their vision and goals are – Les Potton

Artistic Advancement – for without there is no Aspiring Leadership – Robin Ariel

Ask – In spite of pride or fear, Ask for help or advice from trustworthy wise counsel. It is better to have the good sense to ask for help than to cost the company dollars in rework. – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Authentic – followers recognize when a leader is not genuinely committed to the values that he purports to hold highly – Dan Armishaw

Authenticity – The power of a leader is in their connection to their true self and being that they truly are. From there the leader flows, inspires and attracts others into their dreams and visions – Fabiola Benavente

Autonomy – A good leader trusts their people to deliver their results – Sonia Limm

Awareness – We become part of a working entity with a shared organisational purpose – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Awe-Inspiring – A leader creates inspiration by being willing to break ground and bring solutions.  It is the way they  tackle problems which will be defining – Swan Workman

B is for:

Balance  – Without mind, body, and centre in equilibrium you will never reach your fullest potential – Jon Kaden

Behaviour – Leadership is inherently behavioural in nature. Effective leaders master the behaviours and practices required to achieve their organization’s strategic goals – David Monro-Jones

Being – although Leaders have to Do things it all starts with their sense of “Being” – Charlie Efford

Being Present – At the moment with your staff, because it’s all too easy to worry about “important” things and miss out on things that are important to others – Elizabeth Kraus

Believe – Leadership is about believing in your and your team’s strengths. Achieving success when starting a new management position, starts with having confidence – Joris Claeys

Believing – A leader must believe in his ability to lead! A leader must believe in his people! A leader must believe in what it is they are aspiring to achieve! It is like a 3 legged stool. Remove any of the legs representing Believing and the stool loses support and fails! The same holds true for long-term Leadership Success – Bill Long

B – B is for bravery, the courage to lead the way, To face challenges head-on and never run away. – From the ABC of Leadership

Bold – continuing to challenge your own and others’ thinking. Inspiring others to get out of their comfort zone. Knowing the answer to today’s complex problems requires doing things vastly differently than before – Susan Stitt

Bolstering – A leader doesn’t live off the praise of others; the leader gives off the praise to others. The bolstering leader supports, strengthens and upholds their followers – Matt S. Law

Brand Leader – Leaders, of course, have their own preferred style but need to develop an understanding and the skills to lead in a way that allows the brand to be integrated into the culture.   Improving the work culture is key – Audrey Macnaughton

Brave – A leader must be brave to face opposition to his ideas and innovations Sammy Mwatha

Butterfly Effect –  as even the most insignificant of thoughts and/or actions can create an amazing change across time and space – David Bernard-Stevens

C is for:

Calm – able to make time to reflect and think even when the pressure is on and others are panicking –  Michael Brown

Caring – A truly great leader cares about his or her followers and shows it every day – Dayna M. Mathews

Champion – A Leader is a Champion with a cause that people can identify with and they will aspire to join with the leader in achieving that goal – Dan Gabree

Character – as without good character one cannot be a leader –  David Bernard-Stevens

Clarity – Leaders give people clear goals and targets. Everybody knows what they have to achieve and how this fits into the wider company purpose – Sonia Limm

C – C is for communication, the key to making things work, To listen, speak and understand, and never let conflicts lurk. – From the ABC of Leadership

Clear – able to articulate a clear direction and give clear briefs to people to avoid confusion and conflict – Michael Brown

Coaching – Effective leaders use a coaching style to help their staff grow and develop. Command and control leadership is obsolete – J. Matthew Becker

Collaboration – Collaboration requires inspiring individuals to work together for a common purpose to achieve a common benefit – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Communication – A leader needs to be able to communicate and create a culture of respect.  In this way, they gain the respect, trust, and confidence of their followers – Steven Lock

Compassion – which is necessary for each leader so they can understand the relationships they have with staff and clients – Ron McIntyre

Compendium – A compendium of these ABCs is a must both for the Leader and the followers that he would like to see as Leaders someday. A compendium of his/her own experiences in leadership (biography, as a leader?), though historical, would still be a guiding post for the followers, to become one among the leaders – Seshagiri Rao K

Competence – Members of a team need to know that their leader knows her job. – Martin Birt

Concise – Communication to be completely understood – Chris Sier

Connecting – Leaders need to establish a rapport with their key people. Remember, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care – Matt S. Law

Conscience – True leaders of people have an aim of good intention and of knowing that whilst not everything is perfect they remain true, act with integrity and work for the good – Debbie Roberts

Conservation –  to save and control, all organization activities, to manage, assists, materials, ingredient, and before and above that, the staff, improvement – Ibrahim Omar

Consistency. An effective leader, like a good parent, stays true to her values and clearly communicates with her team – Melanie Smithson

Consistent – Do what you say, and say what you’ll do. Consistency builds credibility and shows character. – Chuck Leddy

Consultative leadership – all stakeholders are consulted and the best-agreed action is taken – Silver Ajalaye

Courage of Your Conviction – Effective leaders think and act in a highly principled manner, living by the courage of their convictions – Peter McNally

Courage – leadership requires you to raise the unspoken or uncomfortable conversation so that you can move forward; it requires holding tension with teams and organizations so that they are both uncomfortable staying with the status quo and inspired to move forward; it requires you to lead with a compelling vision for the future. All these acts and more require courage.  Susan Stitt

Courageous – Be the one to lead courageous conversations. Be courageous, and explore new ideas. Be courageous, seek feedback, and learn from what you seek – Michaela Richards

Creative Leadership – More than anything else, Creative Leadership is the ability to turn “followers” into “leaders” in areas of their unique, or special competence, endowment, or taking responsibility. Central to Creative Leadership is the ability to inspire institutional or organizational “culture” in which everyone, regardless of rank, can contribute leadership and, thus, feel important, honoured, and valued. – Efiong Etuk

Criteria – A transformational leader has open criteria to adapt in order to achieve results – Sandra Mora

Culture – Leaders ignore at their peril and leave it to chance at a cost – Richie Maddock

Curious – A leader must have a curiosity that will lead to life-long learning but more importantly will lead to finding interest in different fields that can lead to innovation. Look to the story of how Netflix was created for a great example of this – Consuela Munoz

D is for:

Delivery – A leader will not back down from a problem. She’ll find a way to deliver a commitment, even if it’s painful – Swan Workman

Destination – Without a clear, focused end-point or destination, we would be wandering aimlessly – David R Frick

Determination – Inspiring and appreciating confidence defines the positive mode of the whole team, having trust in the leadership shown. Therefore a leader requires to be determined in his ideas, proposals and guidance – Joris Claeys

D – D is for determination, the strength to persevere, To never give up on your goals, and overcome every fear. – From the ABC of Leadership

Developing – A leader that is no longer learning is stagnating. A developing leader is working daily on personal growth. Matt S. Law

Dialogue – Dialogue goes a step deeper than just communication. It is engaging in an authentic, vulnerability-based, non-judgmental exchange between leader and followers – Steven Lock

Difference – for there is a vast difference between having a position of authority and that of being a leader – David Bernard-Stevens

Do it afraid – Do not let fear keep you from pursuing anything positive  – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Driving Performance – Every Leader must perform – Tony Curl

Duty – Great leaders do not put self-interest first. First and foremost they care about their organisation, their clients or customers, and most importantly of all, their people – Paul Hemphill

E is for:

Eco-systemic Leadership – Holistic understanding of The Environment (as an Ecosystem of Ecosystems), Business Ecosystems & Personal Ecosystems (of those involved) – especially the leader’s own –  Jorma Lehtinen

Elevate – It’s important for a successful leader to raise the members of his team. Build them up relentlessly. Only through the success of others will he find his own – Swan Workman

Emotional Intelligence – It is the most important factor in determining high performance in all jobs in all fields – Peter McNally

Empathy – Philosophers have known this for centuries – “No one can live happily who has regard for himself alone and transforms everything into a question of his own self”. In practically every religious tradition and practice, giving oneself is a key step on the path to spiritual fulfilment. Or, as Einstein put it, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” – David Pilsworth

Empowering – Great leaders provide resources and remove obstacles for others, Enabling them to be Effective – Chuck Leddy

Empowerment Leadership – to be an effective leader you must empower your peers to see and feel the truth you are telling them – Rachael DiBlasi

Encourage – Empower, and Embrace the input of your staff – David Mills

E – E is for empathy, understanding and care, To put yourself in other’s shoes, and be willing to share. – From the ABC of Leadership

Energetic – A transformational leader must be capable of injecting energy into the team – Sandra Mora

Energy – Great leaders look after their energy levels by taking care of their bodies, through exercise, a good diet and plenty of rest and relaxation – Paul Hemphill

Engaged – A leader must be engaged with their work, vision, and strategy. If they are not, then surely those who work from them will not be either – Consuela Munoz

Engagement – We proactively engage rather than wait and see – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Enthusiasm – A great leader has the drive and energy to maintain a certain level of enthusiasm that can become contagious no matter the setting or circumstances without allowing dilemmas, failures or setbacks to hinder or prevent moving forward, growing, learning and making progress; ultimately accomplishing goals in a professional fashion – King Blue

Example – The best leaders create positive change by leading by example. They are fully aware of the example they set for others and seek to maintain a positive one – Dayna M. Mathews

Excellence – In the context of never being satisfied, being humble with recognition and understanding and advocating, not just knowing, there is always room for improvement – King Blue

F is for:

Facilitator – Sometimes we need to push, sometimes we need to direct, and sometimes we just need to give people the platform to find their own solutions – David Jones

Failure –  Expect it to happen with the freedom to take risks. Learning from any failures will only lead to richer successes – John Bennett

Fearless – By definition, leaders are the first to stick their necks out, to dare to dream, to set a compelling vision. If leaders are fearless in their charge, employees will have the courage to get on board and try new things. Innovation follows –  Anna Denton

First Class – When you’re the best, only the best will do – Paul Hemphill

Flexible – Leadership requires flexibility to ever-changing circumstances – Sandra Mora

Flow – being able to facilitate this state personally and in a workplace as an EI competency. Understanding the balance between challenge and ability. – Shiké Vanderwerff

F – F is for fairness, to treat all equally, To uphold justice and integrity, and never act unethically. – From the ABC of Leadership

Focus – A leader needs to have a relentless focus toward the team’s objectives – Swan Workman

Followers – Great leaders have willing followers. It is answering the question of ‘why should anyone be led by you? – David Monro-Jones

Forward-looking – A person living in the past can never be a visionary a necessary requirement for being a leader – Tasneem Hameed

Fun! – Enjoyment and pleasure are wonderful ‘tools’, if not incentives, in guiding change – Bonnie Williams

Futurist – The leader can’t be content to know where the organization is currently. The futurist leader always keeps an eye on where it is going to be in 1, 5, or 20 years – Matt S. Law

G is for:

Generous – generosity in time dedicated to mentoring and guiding, listening and helping, developing and growing each team member – Sandra Mora

Gifted – a Leader is a gifted person having inherent leadership qualities or the ability to acquire them through a deliberate process – Tasneem Hameed

Giving – A good leader needs to be giving and showing the benefits of it. Giving time to her team, giving to customers – Swan Workman

GOALS! – Our high-level Goals (in life and business) make us consider Why we are doing something (preferably before we decide How to do it and What to do) – Richard Parslow

Gracious – be warm, inviting to questions or concerns, welcoming to all, and appreciate your fellow team members – Lisa F Kosak

G – G is for gratitude, to appreciate and thank, To recognize the efforts of others, and keep your spirits frank. – From the ABC of Leadership

Gratitude – This is something that must be part of every leader’s quiver. The key is that it must be authentic – Ron McIntyre

Grooming – Leadership also means grooming future leaders. They can’t stop being leaders by themselves. For the betterment of the society, they must groom the future leaders – Kalyani Basu

Growth – Personal growth leading to leadership growth and resulting in organisation growth – Paul Hemphill

Guidance – A leader must provide clear direction through guidance in order to eliminate confusion – Amanda Koch

Guts – required when you come under pressure and resilience in defeat to dust oneself down and start again – James Farrell

H is for:

Help – knowing when to ask for it and be willing to give it – Sandra Mora

Holistic – a leader can see how all the small parts fit into the whole picture – Helen Arnold-Richardson

Honest – Leaders must be honest. They must make honest assessments, give honest and valuable feedback and view themselves with honesty – Damien Sloane

Hope – in a chaotic world, a good leader provides the hope for order and enlightenment through vision and action – Swan Workman

Human – Sometimes things go wrong but the only failure in leadership is to repeat the same process and hope for a different outcome – Paul Hemphill

H – H is for humility, to stay grounded and true, To never let success get to you, and always be you. – From the ABC of Leadership

Humility – the best leaders are those who can put their hand up and say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘Can you help me?’ The best leaders realise that their people are the experts and that the role of the leader is to develop their people! Maybe add ‘D’ for development – Stephanie Allen

Humour – An inspirational leader has the ability to see the humorous side of every situation – Sandra Mora

Humbleness – a leader must be Humble and acknowledge that every single person in his team is as valuable as they are and has important things to show them – Sandra Mora

Hungry – A great leader is hungry for success; as much for their team and organisation as for themselves – Paul Hemphill

I is for:

Imaginative leadership – Innovative leadership, seeks new ways to deliver – Silver Ajalaye

Independent – A Leader does not do things just because it’s the tradition or the way leadership is taught. Great leaders think for themselves – Paul Hemphill

Influential – A leader is one who influences other people to change their lives and to make the world a better place to live – Reginald Canon

Initiating – A leader cannot plan forever. He must be willing to initiate, to take the first step, to launch –  Matt S. Law

Innovation – Always look to empower people to be better than they were yesterday – Sonia Limm

I – I is for innovation, thinking outside the box, To find new solutions to old problems, and unlocking the locks. – From the ABC of Leadership

Inspiration – it is necessary for success – Ibrahim Omar

Instinctive – A natural way of acting, not being what you are not, but being who and what you are – Jack Bouchard,

Integrity – don’t get caught out, ever – Chris Thomas

Intuitive – A good solid sense of self-trust in their own inner wisdom will steer them through many scary and difficult decisions. It is never easy to make the right decision all of the time, but a leader with well-honed intuition will confidently calculate the best-fit decision – Christina Lattimer

Irreverent – A leader needs to be willing to challenge the status quo, to break moulds and go against the grain in order to succeed – Swan Workman

J is for:

Jigsaw – Getting part of the puzzle right is not enough. Leaders know it’s only when all the pieces are assembled correctly that the result will be picture-perfect – Paul Hemphill

Joined up – The dots will be connected and the team led with the right level of integration and structure – Christina Lattimer

J – J is for joy, to find happiness in what you do, To spread positivity and cheer, and let your passion shine through. – From the ABC of Leadership

Jubilant – A leader needs to express joy and satisfaction with people, with the team, and with positive circumstances – Matt S. Law

Just – Being fair and equitable to all employees, clients, colleagues etc – Jack Bouchard

K is for:

Keen – A leader needs to have a sharp sense of what is going on in his business and with his team. This sense and pulse check allows her to be able to respond quickly in a competitive environment – Swan Workman

Kind-Hearted – A leader’s most important asset is people. The kind-hearted leader demonstrates sympathy and compassion for people – Matt S. Law

K – K is for knowledge, to keep learning and growing, To keep your mind open and curious, and keep your ideas flowing. – From the ABC of Leadership

Kindness – the best leaders demonstrate kindness to themselves and to others – Lynn Flickinger

Kinetic – Move about a bit and you will see things from a different perspective. Staying in the same place means you are likely to see the same things. Over. And over – Dawn Rees

Knowledgeable – A good leader needs to be perceptive and well informed and know where they can get the information they need – Christina Lattimer

L is for:

Laughter – The ability to laugh at oneself and life is what enables a leader to be flexible and gentle with herself and others – Melanie Smithson

Learn – This should be a daily process that does not end – Ron McIntyre

L – L is for loyalty, staying committed and true, To stand by your team and your mission, and seeing it all the way through. – From the ABC of Leadership

Limitless – Leaders push the boundaries of that box that everyone keeps talking about. No lids, no restraints, no borders, no limits – Matt S. Law

Listening – Remember “you cannot listen with your mouth open” – Dipen Rajyaguru

Loud – A leader needs to be the team’s 1 salesman. Always selling the vision, the product, and the message, to the team, investors, and customers –  Swan Workman

M is for:

Mediation – We negotiate and we collaborate together and find a middle point – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Mentor – To ensure that a pool of future leaders is available – Neil Buys

Mindfulness – a wise leader practices mindfulness to remain calm in turbulent times and aware of what is really happening, not just giving knee-jerk reactions to various stimuli, but responding with insight and awareness – David Klaasen

M – M is for motivation, to inspire and ignite, To lead by example and enthusiasm, and keep the flame burning bright. – From the ABC of Leadership

Mindset – for they are ours to create and it is thru them how we will see the world around us – David Bernard-Stevens

More – A leader is never satisfied with the status quo, always pushing for more – Swan Workman

Motivation – We drive to gain consensus in problem-solving or development – Sheridan Myrick-Green

N is for:

Next – You are always looking for what’s next, what’s waiting around the bend, what’s in front of you, and what you can achieve and apply to the next opportunity – Cody Monday

N – N is for networking, building bridges far and wide, To connect with people and building trust, and letting collaboration guide.  – From the ABC of Leadership

No Nonsense – Clarity and grit allow the leader to focus on what’s important – Swan Workman

Nurturing success – Coaching the team to maximize their potential and thereby empowering them to be successful – Catherine Saar

O is for:

Openness – A good leader is always open to receiving feedback, whether is positive or negative. And must be always open to hearing new ideas – Sandra Mora

Open-Minded – A leader who listens to other people and is willing to explore new things for the greater good – Sonia Limm

O – O is for optimism, to see the glass half full, To find the silver lining in every cloud, and never let negativity rule. – From the ABC of Leadership

Opportunity – Never let one pass without considering what you can contribute and what you might gain – Dawn Rees

Optimistic – The best way to achieve the results you want is to believe that you can do it. Optimistic leaders inspire their people to accomplish more than the individuals would have dreamed possible – Chantal Fraser

P is for:

Participation – We participate in collaboration and expect others to participate – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Passionate – Leaders create change and change is resisted because of laziness and fear. The passionate leader helps to overcome complacency in others (and themselves) – Matt S. Law

Perception – We perceive to be true what we believe. Leaders manage perceptions to promote the truth – Sonia Limm

P – P is for patience, to take things slow and steady, To never rush or lose your cool, and always be ready. – From the ABC of Leadership

Persistence – For without persistence, nothing is accomplished – James Bohn

Positive – An inspirational and transformative leader has a positive approach and is capable of seeing the good side and the learning in every situation – Sandra Mora

Purpose – First we – both as individuals as well as a company – need to define the purpose, meaning, the “Why” – in non-financial terms; then the “What” (goals) and the “How” (implementation) will be much easier – and much more satisfying, both non-monetary as well as in monetary terms – Dieter Langenecker

Q is for:

Qualify – A leader qualifies her team by building them up and helping them find growth – Swan Workman

Questioning – Leaders do not accept the status quo, leaders are always asking how to improve themselves, their group, and their organization – Matt S. Law

Q – Q is for quality, to strive for excellence, To always give your best effort, and never settle for less. – From the ABC of Leadership

Questioning status quo – constantly. People’s behaviour, —whether shoppers, subordinates, or vendors— is changing at a faster rate than before and unless you step up in interpersonal skills, technology, even wardrobe, and you’ll be seen leading with obsolete tools – Sohaib AlviQuiet

Quiet – An effective leader removes all distractions, both physical and emotional, in order to listen to others and them-self. Doing so enables clarity, inspiration, and motivation – Alan D. Utley

R is for:

Realistic – It’s fine for a leader to have a bold vision and ambitious goals. But if his plans are so grandiose that they are impossible to attain he sets up his organization for failure – Matt S. Law

Reality – For we truly can create any reality we wish.  The key is to create the ones most serving – David Bernard-Stevens

Reciprocity – We share and expect sharing in return through reciprocity – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Reflection – We think and consider alternatives – Sheridan Myrick-Green

R – R is for resilience, to bounce back from defeat, To keep your spirits high and your feet on the beat. – From the ABC of Leadership

Resilient – A leader must have the ability to bounce back from failure and adversity and help his/her team to do the same, gather the learnings and move forward -Sandra Mora

Respect – Respect others, not just those who are senior to you. Respecting those you lead will help you gain their respect. They will also work harder and smarter for someone they respect – Chantal Fraser

“Restorative” or “relational” leadership – placing relationships at the heart of problem-solving, keeping emotional connections healthy – Margaret Thorsborne

S is for:

Self – for no one can lead anyone until first learning to lead themselves David Bernard-Stevens

Self-synchronization – We as individuals decide when things need to happen – Sheridan Myrick-Green

Sense of Humour – Don’t take yourself too seriously, and laugh at the little things, even when things are going wrong. Appreciate the sense of humour of your team members, especially when they are poking good-natured fun at you. A sense of humour shows that you are human – Chantal Fraser

Servant-hearted – A leader that puts the needs of other people before themselves; that builds people up and not pulls them down. That releases them into leadership and refuses to use their platform to build an empire – Jeremy Dillon

Sincerity – a leader must mean what they say and speak always the truth in order to build trust in their team – Sandra Mora

S – S is for sincerity, to be genuine and true, To speak from your heart and your soul, and let your character shine through. – From the ABC of Leadership

Situational Delegation – Every time you delegate take into account the skill and the level of knowledge of the person you’re delegating to for that task. It’s no good assuming that someone who was great at doing one thing will be able to do something else to the same standard – Fiona Cohn

Smile – Lead with a smile on your face and passion in your heart – Sonia Limm

Stamina – Most others will run out of steam when the tough times hit. The leader has ways to find inner strength and keep on pushing – Swan Workman

Strategic – Leaders have goals for their organization, but it doesn’t stop there. Strategic leaders craft plans, anticipate possible problems, develop contingencies, and think long-term and large-scale – Matt S. Law

Strength Aware – A leader must be aware of their strengths and use them. They also must know the strengths of the team members so that each teammate can use their strengths to take their work from good work to great work. A leader does not need to be well-rounded but should make sure the team is well-rounded – Consuela Munoz

T is for:

Tactical – With so many problems around in business and the world, the leader can focus in on her highest priority and maintain that focus until the job is done – Swan Workman

Thinking – The most effective leaders designate quality time to thinking about the right direction, the most appropriate (real) goals, and the most promising courses of action for long-term, meaningful outcomes – Liz Alexander

T – T is for teamwork, to collaborate and unite, To work together towards a goal, and bring out the best in sight. – From the ABC of Leadership

Thoughts – as they truly are infinite in their potential and have the power to attract and create the reality we experience – David Bernard-Stevens

Trust – Trust your intuition, trust those you lead, and build trust with everyone you interact with. Say what you’re going to do, do it, and build more trust. People following a leader they trust will accomplish great things, often beyond the leader’s expectations. Trust between organizations leads to win-win collaborations/business deals – Chantal Fraser

U is for:

Ubiquitous – A leader needs to build his team to allow him to be everywhere and know what is happening in the company, even when he can’t physically be – Swan Workman

Unique – Be your authentic self, you are unique as is everyone on your team. Appreciate each person for the unique talents they add to the team, and where possible have them play to their strengths – Chantal Fraser

U – U is for understanding, seeing things from different views, To respect diversity and differences, and breaking down barriers and hues. – From the ABC of Leadership

Uplifting – Great goals require a great team. The uplifting leader invests time into elevating his followers’ skills, confidence, and value – Matt S. Law

V is for:

Valour – When challenges are thrown in their direction they look to find a way to overcome them and bring a sense of calmness to the situation – Sonia Limm

Value-added leadership. keep adding values to established standards – Silver Ajalaye

Values – for within everyone are a set of core values that are the true guides for the decisions we will need to make David Bernard-Stevens

Vicious – There are times when a leader needs to be tough, especially when it comes to competition. A weak leader will crumble against adversity, a vicious leader will find success – Swan Workman

Vigilant – Leaders expect the best but are prepared for the worst. The vigilant leader is keenly watching to detect potential pitfalls or problems – Matt S. Law

V – V is for vision, to see beyond the now, To imagine a better future, and make it happen somehow. – From the ABC of Leadership

Vision – A leader must know what the overall objective is and communicate that with their team. The team sorts out the details and makes it happen, but first, the leader needs to tell them what they are trying to accomplish – Chantal Fraser

Visionary – Dare to dream and allow the rest to share in your dream – Neil Buys

Visual – making your vision and plans clear, visible and sharable, being able to convey messages creatively and simply – Debbie Roberts

Voice – Be the voice for those who are not represented. As a leader, it is your role to consider how your decisions affect everyone. It is also your role to name the unpleasant truths that plague your organization, and then do something about them – Chantal Fraser

Vulnerability – Leaders need to recognize their own vulnerability and be wise enough to have robust support systems in place. They also need to exercise care with regard to how, when and with whom to share that vulnerability – David Klaasen

W is for:

Wholeheartedness – the key factor of success, an indication which monitoring, good decision-making, right action, and the right time, on the right direction – Ibrahem Omar

W – W is for wisdom, to use knowledge with care, To make wise decisions and choices, and be aware of the dangers that stare. – From the ABC of Leadership

Winning – with a winning mind you’ll be fit to lead others. – Neville Gaunt

Wise – A leader derives wisdom from her ability to adapt, learn from mistakes, and keep moving – Swan Workman

X is for:

It’s true that X Marks the Spot – The leader has the map, and knows how to navigate and manage his crew to find their ‘treasure’ – Swan Workman

X as in anonymous – Sometimes the leader needs to be in the background not the limelight. A truly successful leader can become an “X” and his organization will continue to grow even if he is anonymous or absent – Matt S. Law

X – X is for X-factor, the unique and rare, To bring something special and different, and shine without compare. – From the ABC of Leadership

X-ray vision – All leaders need to see through obstacles their subordinates cannot – Sohaib Alvi

X-Ray – A true Leader is symbolic of one. Transparent and open, accountable for their actions. They are credible in what they do – Sonia Limm

Y is for:

Yes – An effective leader encourages participation, creativity and improvement with the active and continuous use of the word “yes” followed by “and.” – Alan D. Utley

Y – Y is for youth, to bring fresh ideas and zeal, To infuse energy and passion, and let their voice be real. – From the ABC of Leadership

You – They understand that in any organisation people are their biggest asset and devote their time and energy to the support and development of them – Sonia Limm

Youthfulness – The traits of youthfulness (adaptability, hunger for knowledge, relentless energy) are continuously sought after in an effective leader – Swan Workman

Z is for:

Zealot – A leader is the biggest fan of her team, of her company. She is always spreading the message of how awesome they are – Swan Workman

Zealous – They are passionate and purposeful, dedicated to the higher cause – Sonia Limm

Z – Z is for zeal, to pursue your dreams with fire, To chase after your goals and desires, and never let go of your desire. – From the ABC of Leadership

Zeitgeist – A fine leader demonstrates a firm grasp of and an understanding of how his team and he should tune their actions in response to – the zeitgeist. If a leader ain’t switched on to the world around him, he sure as heck can’t know if his teams are making the best decisions to suit the environment, and thus will be constantly having to cross-check decisions. ‘The Zeitgeist (spirit of the age or spirit of the time) is the intellectual fashion or dominant school of thought that typifies and influences the culture of a particular period in time.’ – Jonathan Henley

Zen – They seek out insights that look at the higher purpose – Sonia Limm

Zenith – A great leader never stops growing and learning. The leader is always reaching for that unreachable culminating point – Alan D. Utley

Now it’s over to you. Take the ABC of Leadership Challenge and comment below if you’d like to add any of your own ABC of Leadership ideas to the list. – From the ABC of Leadership

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