Great leaders focus more on developing the intangibles of leadership than on the tangible attributes of leadership you might find on most lists of “leadership competencies.” Think about someone you admire as a leader. What is it that makes them a great leader? Typically, people identify with characteristics like the ability to: Influence others, make decisions when there is considerable uncertainty, and show genuine commitment to a greater purpose. These intangibles are valued more than capabilities such as writing mission statements or creating strategic plans and budgets. The intangibles of leadership are more important than the tangibles.
In a previous blog, we discussed the notion that leaders must be great learners to be successful in today’s demanding world. Here is a distillation of two of the leadership intangibles for learners from that blog; these are the foundation for many other intangibles of great leadership:
You Own Your Learning – Great leaders take responsibility for their own learning; they don’t wait for others to tell them what they need to work on or what skills they need to develop.
via AMA Playbook Mastering the Intangibles of Leadership – AMA Playbook.
Right on target Bob, as usual – thanks for weighing in here!
Leadership is most definitely about intangibles. The abundance of these intangibles, along with the innumerable number of tangibles make the variables in any instance unmeasurable and the ability to perform exceptionally well a matter of instinct. Great leaders trust their instinct, learn from experiences, and consistently succeed regardless of the situation.