Of All the Important Leadership Characteristics: This One Is Kind of Boring and Hard-for-Me...

Part 1 of 2

I’ve really struggled with this leadership characteristics article.

My original plan was: four articles, one for each foundational, key skill I teach in our Competitive Advantage Leadership and Life (C.A.L.L.) skills program.

First I wrote about jerk leaders and the first skill, Cultivate a Positive Sense of Self in Others. THIS leadership characteristics article was fun to write. It all came together easily.

I wrestled with this second one for a while. Mulling it over while cooking dinner, while walking the dog and while doing other work,

Then it hit me.

I'm having a hard time writing this one because this one is the one I struggle with the most!

I'd decided it was a boring skill. It's not really boring, I just dissed it because I'm not very good at it!

What about you?

How good are you at this second C.A.L.L. program leadership characteristic:

"Addressing Problems Quickly By Focusing on Facts and Behaviors" is one of the key leadership characteristics for great leaders because if you master it you can effectively master these 'tricky' work situations...

• Minor rule infractions. (Some think this is 'nit-picking', but work structure can get out of control if not discussed and addressed.)
• Personal matters – such as how someone dresses, bathes or if they have a sloppy work area. (Seems like a private matter, we’d rather ‘mind our own business.’)
• Too many personal calls or some other seemingly small bad habit– especially if this person’s a high performer. (Again, it seems 'nit-picking' when this person does so well In so many other areas.)
• Someone who’s very sensitive to feedback or normally argumentative. (Can seem easier to avoid this person, that is until the problem gets bigger.)
• Ineffective interpersonal behaviors and communication style issues. (Give me factual errors to address over these areas, anytime!)

Learning how to address interpersonal problems and poor work performance quickly and without judgment is crucial because it improves employee trust.

Everyone is watching and how you treat one person. What you do with one, sets the stage for how others expect to be treated.

If you’re effective addressing tricky situations people will respect your ability to be fair and direct.

High trust on a team is built through respectful, honest and sometimes tough and candid discussions.

This is why this skill is one of four foundational, great leader, leadership characteristics.

I've not had many great role models for this skill, throughout my career. Have you?

Most of the leaders I’ve worked for have been either too harsh or too easy. Addressing interpersonal or work performance problems effectively is not easy.

If you master this skill you will reduce and/or eliminate no-under-currents.

Leaders who've mastered this skill, along with the other three key leadership characteristics:

• Are neither insensitive/harsh OR too sensitive/nice.
• Are not hypercritical. They stay focused on possibilities and strengths in others, rather than flaws.
• State objective data and facts (over gut instinct & opinion) when holding performance discussions.
• Have the ability to balance the needs of the situation versus the needs of the people – and address both adequately.
• Can remain calm and positively in control in emotionally charged environments.
• Are aware of, but not slave to, the feelings of others.