As president of Bank of America in Rhode Island, and with a very active philanthropic profile — he was the initial recipient of PBN’s Business Excellence Awards Corporate Citizenship award in 2009 — William F. Hatfield has the opportunity to see some of the region’s best executives in action. Here he shares four essential attributes of an effective leader.
In any organization, delivering results matters. Yet how leaders lead is the real differentiator in the final outcome. Over the course of my long career, I’ve had the opportunity to observe leaders with a variety of styles, ranging from authoritarian to consensus builder. While leadership requirements are largely determined by the need at the time and the opportunity at hand, there are some specific attributes I’ve witnessed in leaders I respect and admire that differentiate them from others.
» First, there is a conveyance of optimism that is grounded in reality. Yes, there may be difficult challenges or adversity but an effective leader keeps the team positively focused and inspires through demonstrated passion, connecting everyone to the success of achieving specific goals.
» Second, an effective leader is authentic and relates to people in a real and human way all the time, not just when they are “on stage.” One leader I greatly admire lives by the motto “work hard and be nice to people.” A simple concept to grasp and execute!
» A third attribute is a willingness to be a strong coach and mentor, helping people maximize their potential and achieve their personal ambitions. Providing honest, constructive feedback and having a keen interest in someone’s career development pays significant dividends in terms of engagement.
» Lastly, an effective leader has a clear vision of his or her purpose and understands completely what accountability means. They own the outcome, for better or worse, and don’t hide behind excuses!
As leaders we’re always being challenged to “up our game.” I hope this helps yours. •