Temperament: What it takes to lead - SmartBrief

All Articles Leadership Inspiration Temperament: What it takes to lead

Temperament: What it takes to lead

Temperament is a strong attribute of leadership; those with a temperament that is more focused on others will be those who can lead the most effectively.

2 min read

Inspiration

anger-794699_1280

By definition, temperament connotes disposition — an outlook on the world but also a sense of individuality that radiates self-assurance.

In my experience, those with a good temperament are those who bring people toward them. Why? Because they invite smart people and feel warmed by their presence. That in turn encourages a spirit of contribution that leads to collaboration.

There is something else about leaders with good temperament: They share the credit. So often, good leaders talk first about what the team has accomplished rather than what they as individuals have done.

The emphasis on temperament should not denigrate the role of intellect.

We want to follow a leader who has the smarts to evaluate alternatives, a leader who is confident in his or her own intellect to make the right call after the smart people have shared their ideas and their counsel.

It is the leader who must make the final decision.

Temperament is a strong attribute of leadership; those with a temperament that is more focused on others will be those who can lead the most effectively.

https://youtu.be/kVcqhs0xl0g align:center

John Baldoni is chair of leadership development at N2Growth, is an internationally recognized leadership educator and executive coach. In 2014, Trust Across America named him to its list of top 100 most trustworthy business experts. Also in 2014, Inc.com named Baldoni to its list of top 100 leadership experts, and Global Gurus ranked him No. 11 on its list of global leadership experts. Baldoni is the author of more than a dozen books, including his newest, “MOXIE: The Secret to Bold and Gutsy Leadership.”

If you enjoyed this article, join SmartBrief’s e-mail list for our daily newsletter on being a better, smarter leader.