Idea 18: The 25 attributes of leadership and management

A survey of successful chief executives about the attributes most valuable at top levels of management indicated the following in order of rating:

1. Ability to take decisions.
2. Leadership.
3. Integrity.
4. Enthusiasm.
5. Imagination.
6. Willingness to work hard.
7. Analytical ability.
8. Understanding of others.
9. Ability to spot opportunities.
10. Ability to meet unpleasant situations.
11. Ability to adapt quickly to change.
12. Willingness to take risks.
13. Enterprise.
14. Capacity to speak lucidly.
15. Astuteness.
16. Ability to administer efficiently.
17. Open-mindedness.
18. Ability to ‘stick to it’.
19. Willingness to work long hours.
20. Ambition.
21. Single-mindedness.
22. Capacity for lucid writing.
23. Curiosity.
24. Skill with numbers.
25. Capacity for abstract thought.

No list of leadership qualities, however long, is ever complete, though. You should regard this one as an indicative list. Nor should the rating order be taken too seriously. Yet it is the best long list I know of the attributes that you need if you are going to be a great chief executive – and it holds true throughout the world.