How to Become A Great Leader

How do you become a great leader? Through successes and mistakes, and by staying true to your "four cornerstones.

MAY 17, 2013 

John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

His quote, along with tens of thousands of other great quotes on leadership, inspired me to find out more about what defines great leaders and to answer the age-old question of whether they are born or made. I have come to believe that the only innate elements of great leadership are passion and energy. Everything else can be taught. 

Great leadership doesn’t happen overnight. There’s no 6-week course that will suddenly turn you into George Washington or Jack Welch. Great leadership is built brick by brick over many years with each decision and every mistake you make. Done correctly, great leadership stands on a rock solid foundation.

Within that foundation are four cornerstones. These are the four words that best describe the type of leader you are today. They also represent the type of person and leader you aspire to become. Some cornerstone examples include: Integrity, Gratitude, Decency, Vision and Character. The words are the core of what you stand for as a person and a leader.

• Character. The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. When you hear someone described as a “person of character,” you get a positive, leadership image.
• Credibility. The capability of being trusted. As a small-business owner, credibility is a critical element to success. You will lead your company through sometimes murky waters while dealing with larger companies who may hesitate in doing business with a small company whose leader doesn’t possess the utmost credibility. Remember these words: “I can’t do business with you if I can’t trust you.”
• Integrity. Having strong moral principles. This goes hand in hand with credibility and character. There are times in our business lives when we’ve been offered opportunities that were less than honest. The result may be a leg up on the competition or an easier path. In essence, it’s nothing more than a cornerstone test. We’ve all seen the disgraced leaders in newspapers and on television who failed the cornerstone test. Remember their faces, tears and shame. It’s all a result of a poorly built foundation.
• Vision. Seeing what others cannot see. I’ve always aspired to be a person who challenges himself to see what others cannot see. This cornerstone is critical in times of crisis when there is no clear path.

Filling in the Foundation

Once you’ve established your four cornerstones, it’s time to fill in the foundation. Select 15 to 20 more words that describe your personal and leadership skills (e.g., excellence, respect, humility and responsibility). Lay these words across your foundation, let them settle in and stay committed to them.