What is the most important characteristic of a great leader?
I have been asked this question more than any other in the months following the release of my book, Leadership is Dead.
The most important characteristic of a great leader is Humility.
The most dreadful characteristic of a leader is Pride.
When a person begins to understand humility they begin to become more comfortable with who they are, both with their strengths and with their flaws. Humility draws people to the understanding that they are not all-powerful and or all-knowing, so they don’t act like they are. Humility produces positive security and confidence in that they are not trying to prove themselves all the time to everyone they meet.
Pride on the other hand produces a paranoia as a person is always hiding something or afraid to lose something they have worked hard to get. It is the person who tries so hard to show how important that they are that they become self-consumed in their insecurity.
Humility is a gift to all mankind. It gives peace to the person, confidence to the team and perspective for the company.
That is why Humility is the most important characteristic of a great leader.
