leadership Archives - Insight to Action

The Key Qualities of Good Leaders

In leadership development training and coaching, a frequently discussed topic is what it means to be a leader and what leadership qualities really are. Can you be a leader even if you don’t have people reporting to you? Is a leader the same as a manager? What are the essential qualities of leaders – and can they be developed? As someone who has coached leaders in many contexts for over 30 years, here are my thoughts on what it means to be a leader: Leadership Qualities Vision This is the defining characteristic. Leaders have a galvanizing vision. They see a…

Executive Coaching

Hiring the Right Leaders

Elaine Sigurdson

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Getting the right people on the bus is arguably an organization’s greatest challenge. And when that role is a leadership role, the stakes are that much higher. All the more important to implement a disciplined selection process, grounded in a clear understanding of the position and what qualities will be required to achieve success. Start by preparing an ideal candidate profile considering questions such as these: Does the role require a leader who is a big picture thinker or someone who can drill down into the details? Does the position need a leader who supervises fairly closely, or, someone with…

Executive Coaching

Top 5 Ways Personality Assessments Promote Team Effectiveness

Elaine Sigurdson

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How can an understanding of different personalities help leaders build more effective teams? In a nutshell, tools, such as the Myers-Briggs benefit the team by providing: A Boost of Confidence – When people do something well, whether it is generating ideas or project planning, they tend to take it for granted, assuming everyone has this skill. When they become aware of their strengths through personality assessment, almost inevitably, their confidence is bolstered, and they feel inspired to contribute even more to the team. Maximized Performance – People bring their A games when they are able to use their strengths and operate with…