One of my favorite leadership authors is Jon Gordon. He focuses his books, energy, and posts on how to be a positive leader. In a recent social media post, Gordon listed his nine-item checklist for hiring a good leader. That list inspired me to expand my thoughts on the five that have been important to cultivating leaders within our business.

Culture Builder – Leaders are the lifeblood of creating and nurturing an organization’s culture. They set the tone, embody the values, and ignite a shared passion for the mission. It’s about leading positively, fostering accountability, and creating an environment where everyone thrives.

Integrity – This is one of our teams’ key values. This isn’t integrity – solely focused on truthfulness. It’s about doing what is right. A remarkable leader leads not by rules but by unwavering values, even in the absence of others or personal gain.

Big Bold Vision – A leader must inspire the passion and development of their team. They cast a vision for the team and a vision for each person that keeps them growing, developing, and steering everyone toward a shared goal. Not only do they cast the vision, but they keep it in front of them, so everyone’s actions are based on the vision and values.

Leads with Love and Accountability – Often, leaders struggle with how to lead with both traits at the same time. I always look at how I parent. There should never be a time my kids do not feel that I love them, even when I hold them accountable. However, they don’t always like me in all of my parenting because I hold them to our families’ values. A true leader nurtures connections, builds trust, and ensures that team members feel both cared for and aligned with the organization’s aspirations. A team with a loving leader will come together and find ways to stay accountable.

Takes Zoom-Focused Action – I tend to think of this as a “get’r done” mentality. A leader must know how to make sure action is taken and things get accomplished. They know how to utilize good processes and procedures so others can move forward and get things done without everything having to funnel through the leader. This brings people together, creates trust and keeps everyone rowing in the same direction.

I believe that when an organization hires leaders who serve their teams positively with these five characteristics, they will have a strong leadership team that is aligned, focused, and holds each other accountable. My hope in sharing these key attributes is to inspire you to create your own list as you pursue excellence in your business.