Top 3 Leadership Traits in Brilliant Leaders

As we make our way through 2012 and continue through the year of transformation it is interesting to notice businesses that are thriving and the leaders behind the successful businesses.

Apple, is growing rapidly and barely missed a beat with the passing of Steve Jobs. The Chopra Center is growing with new programs and the legacy of David Simon who recently passed away.

As a leadership expert I study and examine successful leaders and their strategies as well as consult with organizations on how to increase leadership skills to grow the business. There are certain components of every good leader that drive business forward while leaving a legacy of success.

The top 3 leadership traits that I see in successful leaders are:

#1- Commitment to the vision. I have read Steve Jobs autobiography and much was written about his ‘lack of people skills’ but I believe the trait that carried Apple to its pinnacle of success today is his commitment to his vision. His vision was his legacy. He envisioned a world where technology was accessible by the masses. He saw technology as being simple and easy to use. Because of his commitment to the vision he was able to inspire the rest of the company to fulfill the vision. One could argue whether he needed the ‘people skills’ if you have the right people in the right positions.

#2- Aware of the collective- this trait of being aware of the collective is unique. By nature leaders are positioned to be out front and to lead and to be the focus of initiatives that move the company forward. The ability to have a high level of awareness and to be thinking of the collective is a trait of a gifted leader. David Simon had this trait and gift- he was an amazing leader and perhaps not as well known as his partner Deepak Chopra and yet his ability to be aware of the collective allowed him to build the Chopra Center to what it is today. His legacy is that he has created leaders in his style who remain at the Chopra Center- Davidji, Amanda and others all model the trait of being aware of the collective and this will carry the Chopra Center forward.

#3- Focused internal growth- the best leaders recognize that as they grow their abilities to lead grow. As they challenge themselves and continue to learn they in turn can model personal growth to their teams. I am not talking about taking courses or going to conferences. I am referring to working with consultants and coaches that challenge their thinking, their approaches and their strategies. The ability to accept feedback from peers and the team as well as an outside expert is the trait of a brilliant leader. I recently watched Oprah interview Stephen Tyler of Aerosmith and he confessed that after his fall off of the stage that cancelled the Aerosmith tour he sought help and apologized to his band (his team). He realized that his behavior shapes the team behavior and that he humbly had to receive outside help.

It used to be that focusing on internal growth and vision would be viewed as ‘touchy feely’ aspects of leadership. The truth is that being a leader who has the ability to connect, be humble, be honest and share a vision are the leaders that all of the generations want to follow.