Leadership is one of those things that can be tough describe. It’s one of those “you know it when you see it” kinds of things. Anyone who’s worked on teams lead by a good

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leader knows what a difference it can make in the success of the project, and the satisfaction and fulfillment of the team members to have a great leader at the helm.

But what is it that actually makes leaders great? What are the marks of a leader?

Today, I want to present the 5 marks of a leader that I think are most important to a leader’s success in their role. I think it’s very important for engineers to understand these mars so that they can recognize the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to leaders. Do everything you can to align yourself with the good ones, and everything you can to shy away from the bad.

The 5 Marks of a Leader

True leaders are:

Visionary – True leaders are visionary. This is a major distinguishing factor between leaders and managers. A manager’s responsibility is primarily one of measurement and correction. It’s about making sure that business is proceeding according to plan. Leadership is about creating the vision, or the goal, that the plan is meant to achieve. True leaders are able to establish that vision and communicate it effectively.

Excellent communicators – In order to share their vision and establish trust with members of a team, a leader must be able to communicate effectively. They must be able to listen actively, to give their attention fully to the people they are dealing with. They must also be able to share their thoughts with others in clear and concise language, both in person and in writing.

Role models – Leaders are role models. They conduct themselves in such a way that serves to inspire those around them. That’s doesn’t just apply to their behavior and actions at meetings; it applies to how they interact with people in the lunch room, how they speak about their spouses, how they treat the custodians… absolutely every aspect of their lives contribute to their ability to inspire.

Passionate – Leaders are passionate about their teams, about their projects, and about their goals. They care deeply about  not only the success of their work, but also about their people. They go out of their way to support your goals and your ambitions, and challenge you to be a better you.

Put others first – A true leader sees themselves as being at the bottom of the hierarchy, working to push people up as opposed to at the top. Leadership is about service, not about being served. A true leader makes it their business to make it as easy as possible for the team to succeed.

Taking Action

Think of a leader you’ve worked with. Did they have the 5 marks of a leader? Tell the Engineering and Leadership community about it in the comments section below. What could you do to develop your own skills as a leader?