10 Qualities of A Great Team Leader: Part Three

For those of you that know me, you know that nothing excites me more than coaching and leading teams. I love it. I find fulfillment in leading and developing highly efficient, excellent, healthy teams more than most other things I do in business.

In the spring this year, I took our team leads from Catalyst away for a two-day retreat. The goals were simple: learn more about each other. Learn about our unique wiring. Learn the DNA of our current team, and create energy around becoming great leaders.

I asked these leaders what they believe makes great team leaders, and It did not take long for us to come up with a list of 21 qualities that would surface from the greatest team leaders we know.

I have narrowed it down to the top 10, which is still too many, but I can’t edit anymore. So over the next few days, I want to talk about each of these characteristics and the value that they bring to leading teams.

5. Consistent

The definition of consistent is simple…Unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time. Another way to say this would also be integrity. My southern, simple version is this: What you see is what you get. There are obviously times when you have bad days and act in unexpected ways. The key, in those times, are those days are exceptions and not the rule.

Let’s be honest. No one wants to be in a relationship with anyone whose moods change with the wind and their decisions seem to have no rhyme of reason. If you lead that way, then you will keep your team on their heels, never able to gain traction or confidence, and struggling to be their best.

I have often said that one of my highest values as a person (maybe my highest) would be being known to have the same personality and character at home, the office, church or out with friends on the golf course.  I obviously do different things depending on the environment I’m in, but my character and personality are constant.  It requires fighting hard for your personality and being yourself.

This does not immune any of us to having a bad day.  The difference is that when we are having a bad day, people will know it’s a bad day and not the normal.

Is it just me, or is this a must for a great team leader?

6. Calm/Stable

I know this sounds very similar to the trait right before this, but I would argue that there is a difference in these two.  Specifically with the calm attribute.

In England, it’s often said, “Keep Calm and Carry On.”  I’m almost convinced that they took that from me.  There is a reason that some of the best coaches in professional sports resemble men and women of calm.  They can take every moment and regulate their emotions so they can stay in clarity.  Think about it…Phil Jackson, Bill Belichek and Bobby Cox were all in a league of their own when it comes to leading teams.  I would argue that their calmness served them well and constantly kept them focused and clear minded.  As well as the occasional intensity to wake everyone up!

Rorke Denver (lead Navy Seal in Act of Valor) spoke at a previous Leadercast event and tells a story of a commanding officer teaching the recruits this simple phrase, “Calm is contagious.”  How true.  Team leaders that can stay calm in the face of plans that fail, technology that breaks and team members that get anxious, will attract an amazing team with a loyal following.

What is one area you could be asking God to give you calm in that would make you a great team leader?