Over the last couple of decades, I’ve had the privilege of working with and studying dozens of truly world class leaders – Red Arrows leaders, elite special forces leaders, world cup winning coaches and gold medal winning Olympic coaches, victorious racing yacht skippers, Michelin starred chefs and many more.
I’ve learned that there are five qualities that you’ll consistently find in world class leaders.
I call these the Five Keys to World Class Leadership.
The first is ‘Depth of Leadership’
Another is that they ‘Lead through Influence’… not authority, instruction or direction, but influence.
This understanding helps illuminate one of the fundamental truths of leadership.
Leadership is not dictated by leaders.
It’s dictated by followers.
Bizarrely, I learned how this really works from pigeons!
You’re only a leader if others choose to follow you.
So…
Why would people choose to follow you?
Why would they choose to follow your leaders?
A friend of mine, Floyd (a former SAS Major) helped bust a myth. I asked him why people are willing to follow him into battle, where their lives are on the line.
He said the myth is that he has more knowledge… more experience… or that he’ll come up with the right answer.
He said, “The truth is, I don’t always have the right answer. I’m human. I make mistakes too”.
So, why do they follow him into potentially deadly situations?
The headline answer is, “Trust”.
But the question is… How does he develop that trust?
How does he become worthy of their trust?
Being trustworthy is a critical characteristic in leadership.
Importantly it is a characteristic… an element of character!
This is why World Class Leadership focuses on hiring people with the right characteristics and developing character.
If you want to…
and
… then why not check out our World Class Leadership programme
