You’re So Vain…You Probably Think This Post is About You

I’ve come across a few vain executives lately.  I won’t even call them leaders because I believe when vanity comes into play real leadership goes out the window.

We all know who these executives are and what it feels like to be around them.  We start to wonder how they actually finagled their way into their executive roles, right? Because while confidence is an absolute requirement for being a leader, crossing the line to vanity wipes out all the good you’ve done in your career and leaves a very bad taste in the mouths of those who work with you, for you, and around you.

And while I have had to work with some vain execs lately I’ve also had the distinct pleasure of meeting some leaders who are so inspiring in the way they treat others that I decided to make a list of attributes that you don’t always find on a CEO’s job description, but when exhibited make these people the greatest kinds of leaders…

1. They respect my time simply because I’m a fellow human being.  If they are going to be late for an appointment with me they have their Executive Assistants alert me to this and when we do meet they apologize sincerely.  I had one CEO tell me that he absolutely hates to keep people waiting and he apologized so profusely – and so genuinely – to me for being late that I have held him in high regard ever since.

2. They respond to my correspondence graciously and in a timely manner.  This is not asking too much.  I have had CEOs of half-billion dollar companies send me very gracious emails that take less time for them to write and send than for them to involve their assistants unnecessarily.  It is so easy to be gracious and to choose kindness over rudeness.

3. These leaders understand the importance of having a Values Statement or set of Values for their organization.  Even more importantly, they understand that their role is to set an example of living these values to the highest degree, and they expect to be held accountable to this.  CEO Bill Black, who I interviewed for this post on Values as a Bridge to Vision, is a shining example of this.

4. They ask the opinion of others when appropriate and then they listen intently to the response.  They thank people for sharing their opinions and when they decide not to follow others’ advice they have the courtesy to tell them why.

5. They do what they say they’re going to do.  They come through.

6. They decide. Period.

7. They negotiate with a genuine intent to get to a win-win rather than to leave their negotiating partner feeling bloodied.

8. They are passionate about the business they’re leading.  Anything less is vanity telling them they can still lead the organization better than anyone else.

9. They have the wisdom to understand the importance of having a vision for the organization, of clearly defining and communicating it for everyone involved in bringing the vision to life, of charting the course towards the vision and of being held accountable for staying on course.

10. Underlying all of the preceding attributes is pure respect.  Real leaders have real respect for other human beings.  They desire to connect others, to give to others more than they get back, and to help others succeed simply because of the fabric of respect that underlies everything they do.

Do you disagree when it comes to leadership and vanity? What did I leave out? Please share in the comments…

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Photo is Vain Cupid in the Quadrangle Building at Sydney University by Jemsweb.