A couple of months ago, a group of business colleagues and I were enjoying a very in-depth and intriguing conversation around what makes an outstanding leader. Whilst each of us are now running our own business or are in a position of authority and responsibility, we all seemed to have different backgrounds, had been brought up with different values and had enjoyed the benefit and the challenge, of strong leaders, coaches and mentors along our journey. As such, it was interesting to listen to and understand what leadership meant to each of the members of the group. We spent hours discussing, and sometimes debating, what we thought was the top leadership principle that we had embraced and utilised to achieve the results we had achieved thus far. Out of the discussion, one thing became very clear – we all had different perspectives on the number one leadership principle. One of my colleagues believed his number one principle was leadership by example, where he was able to observe a leader, understand how the leader did what he/she did, replicate it, and achieve the same result. For another colleague, it was more about leadership by instruction, where the leader not only showed the way, they also provided instructions, or a blueprint, making it easier for others to follow, in order to achieve the result. The more we discussed this topic, the more I realised that there are so many different aspects to leadership – the question is, is there a definitive list of the top principles that when integrated, allow a person to be an outstanding leader, irrespective of the industry, company or business?  And so began a type of crusade, to research companies, countries, governments, businesses and not for profit enterprises, to see whether there was a common thread of principles to leadership that crossed all boundaries – what I found was that there are in fact some common themes, and I would love to share the following 6 principles that I believe, when integrated, allow you (and me) to become an even better leader. And these are in no particular order of importance as I believe the power of these principles comes when they are combined, along with 1 overriding Golden Rule :

1. The ability to Listen – this principle on the surface appears to be quite simple, and it is. However, in its simplicity, it is also profound. Have you ever been in a situation where you were engaged in a conversation with someone and whilst you were talking, the other person was looking at you but you just knew that they were not paying attention, that they were ‘somewhere else”? How did it make you feel? More or less important, and valued? And by contrast, have you been in a conversation with someone where you were completely transfixed on the other person and you got the feeling that you were the most important person in the world at that moment? This is a demonstration of the art of listening at its finest, where the person who you are speaking to is 100% engaged and fully present for you. When you can master the art of listening, you will be able to establish a very strong and powerful connection with the other person, and once that connection is established, magic can happen.
2. The ability to Storytell – the most effective and greatest leaders utilise this principle to its fullest, whether they are speaking with their staff, their partners or their customers. They understand that people process information in pictures and by communicating messages via a story (commonly known as a metaphor), the audience will more often than not relate to a character in the story, and place themselves in the story, and as a result, take affirmative action. The greatest leaders in the world are also the greatest storytellers!
3. Adaptability – great leaders are also great adapters, they constantly demonstrate behavioural flexibility, and recognise when it is appropriate to change their approach. Great leaders understand that nothing ever stands still, that the world today is changing ever so rapidly, and that to remain relevant to the marketplace, and continue to deliver results, they need to be flexible, nimble and adaptable.
4. Passion – it has often been said that if you are truly passionate about what you do, you will never work a day in your life. Leaders who are openly passionate about their business and/or product create a positive ripple that is contagious, to both employees and customers alike. Look at the effect Steve Jobs had on Apple and the ripple effect of generational change his passion created on how we communicate today.A passionate leader, when they combine the other key leadership principles, will certainly leave a positive legacy, and will certainly have a positive impact on the bottom line!
5. Authenticity – I believe this leadership principle is indelibly linked to integrity. Great leaders are people of unquestionable integrity, they demonstrate humility and are not afraid to show a level of vulnerability. There is no need to put on a facade, or a suit of armour, because what you see is what you get – they are genuinely authentic people, whether they are sitting in a boardroom, in a restaurant, playing football on the weekend, or speaking to a group of school children. Authentic leaders fully understand that in the 21^st century, where social media pervades our everyday life, there is no longer a demarcation line between personal and professional life – they are ‘always on’.
6. Simplicity – in a world which seems to be getting faster and faster, and more complex, the ability for a leader to simplify things, to distil complex messages and challenges, down into simple concepts, language and solutions, is a very powerful ability indeed. A leader who is able to do this on a consistent basis will invariably see a corresponding increase in employee engagement, they will be able to better articulate their vision and have their employees, customers and key stakeholders understand and buy in to the vision, ultimately leading to better results on the bottom line.

Whether you are currently running your own business,  whether you are a senior leader within a corporation, small or medium business, whether you are a team leader responsible for a small number of people, whether you coach a local sporting team, whether you are a leader of a volunteer or charitable organisation, or whether you are a leader within your family, these 6 principles of leadership applied with the overriding Golden Rule, will allow you to take your leadership capability to an entirely new level. And the overriding Golden Rule? To treat others as the way you want to be treated. Apply this Golden Rule immediately, along with the 6 principles of leadership, and notice what a difference it makes – you may even notice an entirely different world, almost unrecognisable to the one you have been living in.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the 6 principles of leadership and the Golden Rule, and how much they have positively impacted your leadership, your business, and your relationships. If you would like to delve deeper into any of these principles, please send me an email at darren@potentialunleashed.com.au – I’d love to hear your stories of success and help you on your journey of successful leadership.

To your success

Darren