What Makes a Good Leader?

What makes a good leader? That question was asked by the Army War College in a study of highly regarded major generals in Iraq. Subordinates rated the officers anonymously. The responses, in order of importance:

Keeps cool under pressure.
Clearly explains missions, standards, and priorities.
Sees the big picture; provides context and perspective.
Makes tough, sound decisions on time.

One of the study's authors, General Walter Ulmer (retired), said, "One thing we found, is that it's still easier to teach technical skills than to teach people how to gain trust and build teams. Ulmer noted that many key behaviors are learned by example, so good leaders tend to produce more good leaders.

Source: —Lyric Wallwork, Parade (7-10-05), p.10; submitted by Tracy Jessup; Shelby, North Carolina

(Quoted in Leadership Weekly email 09-04-07)