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Leadership Turn

What Makes a Good Leader?

by Denise Grier on March 22nd, 2007

“You do not lead by hitting people over the head - that’s assault, not leadership.”—Dwight D. Eisenhower

This quote is a perfect example of what I would like to talk about today. I started working for B5Media only four days ago, but already I can see that I am going to love having Douglas Hanna, the editor of the Business Channel, for a boss.

Why? Because he is not hitting me over the head, (pardon me, but the visual is hilarious). After making sure that I was qualified by going over my credentials, testing my skills and checking my references, Douglas handed the reigns to Leadership Turn over to me. It became mine. That’s what he said the first day I started, “It’s your baby now.”

What an incentive to do a good job!

In contrast, I worked for an online publication a few months back and the boss drove me nuts! Emailing me at least six or seven times a day to check on my progress, double check whether I had done this or that yet, instant messaging me when I was in the middle of trying to actually DO the job to give me tips and advice. I felt chained to my computer and totally hassled, and unsurprisingly, I did not stay.

That is the difference between a good and bad leader. A good leader knows when to push and when to back off. They do not feel the need to control. Good leaders have confidence in themselves. They only hire people who they are confident can do the job. A good leader lets their employees know that he/she is there when they need them.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received was from a boss I had back in 1976. He had promoted me from salesperson to manager within only months of hiring me because he saw the potential for leadership that I possessed. He recognized my hungry ambition.

He told me I was only as good as my weakest employee.

That statement has served me well over the years. If you hire qualified people and train them right, you can let go of the reigns with confidence.

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7 opinions for What Makes a Good Leader?

  • Garry
    Mar 22, 2007 at 7:54 pm

    “Getting the right people on the bus, and letting the others out at the next stop” is one of the sayings that I have lived by the past few years. As a leader, it is my job to get the right people in the positions, allow them to explore, experiment, and make mistakes (assist them when they fall flat), all along empowering them to make the decisions that are necessary to allow the whole team to flourish.

  • Denise Grier
    Mar 23, 2007 at 5:09 am

    I like that saying, Garry. And your thinking. :)

  • Howie
    Mar 23, 2007 at 8:42 pm

    It’s definitely essential for leaders to know who they are working with. Choosing the right people for the job must be done with careful thought and consideration. Evaluating their level for the position may help their performance.

  • Denise Grier
    Mar 24, 2007 at 4:50 am

    Totally agree, Howie. It is crucial to fit the right person to the right job, for the company and for the employee’s future happiness.

  • Charlie
    Mar 25, 2007 at 7:44 pm

    For me, choosing the right people doesn’t mean that he/she must be fitted for the job. As long as there is a sense of determination and willingness to to learn, I would gladly help them out in that field.

  • Denise Grier
    Mar 26, 2007 at 7:35 am

    That’s honorable, Charlie. But what if, even if they are willing and determined, they just don’t have the talent that particular job requires? Seems like a lot of wasted time for the employer and a disappointment waiting to happen for the employee if they can’t cut the mustard.

  • DaddyDear » Blog Archive » On Leadership
    Sep 3, 2007 at 10:45 am

    […] Grier wrote in Leadership Upturn that the best piece of advise he had ever received from a boss was that he was only as good as his […]

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