Lessons on Leadership from Braveheart
September 26th, 2018 | 2 min. read
Titles may give power, authority or a corner office, but they don’t make a leader. Let’s take a look at eight hallmarks of true leaders:
- Leaders empower others to succeed. Managers who aren’t effective leaders often don’t like to share the credit and may feel threatened when a team member succeeds. Leaders are smart to delegate and they enthusiastically celebrate the victories of others. They will also share the credit in the form of bonuses.
“When I talk to managers I get the feeling that they are important. When I talk to leaders I get the feeling that I am important.”
- Leaders cast vision. Managers move people towards a deadline, but leaders move people toward a vision. Leaders constantly remind their team of the big picture and how they fit into it.
- Leaders encourage risk-taking. A culture that nurtures a fear of failure stunts growth. This is is problematic because risk-taking is a necessary catalyst for growth. Effective leaders don’t just talk about taking risks, they model it.
- Leaders have a lasting influence. An influential leader’s impact will stick with their employees long after the workday ends, or even after they move on to another job. (The fact that a blockbuster movie was made about William Wallace’s life nearly 700 years after his death suggests some serious impact!)
- Leaders get buy in. They value the contributions of others and seek to rally others around a common vision. Great leaders don’t develop their business plans and projects while hiding in their offices.
- Leaders inspire. A really bad boss may use power to coerce, demand or intimidate, whereas a great leader uses influence to motivate their team toward shared hopes and dreams. In short, great leaders get their people, “fired up!”
- Leaders listen. Bosses may give orders or run meetings without taking the time to listen to their employees. A great leader will discover the goals or career aspirations of each team member. Great leaders coach each employee and provide professional development opportunities for each one.
- Leaders earn respect. Bosses demand it.
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