10 Things We Learned from Working With Great Leaders
One of the benefits of serving as association CEOs is that you get to watch thousands of leaders in action. Here are our observations from decades of watching great (and not so great) leaders.
1. Everyone leads differently. There is not one right way to lead. But there is a science and an art to leading. Great leaders study the science and put evidence-based practices into action with the art of customizing the unique situation and people they are working with. And consistently they act authentically — true to themselves, their nature, their style.
2. Great leaders rarely make decisions alone. They know that the best decisions are founded on a diversity of input and they engage people from different perspectives. They understand that those closest to the situation know the nuances of the situation and ensure that their points of view are included. They are honest about seeking input and never ask for it when they have already made a decision.
3. When people work together doing important and complicated work, different points of view can result in conflict. Great leaders do not shy away from conflict. Rather they embrace it and facilitate respectful conflict resolution.
4. The path forward is usually through ‘both/and’ rather than ‘either/or’. Knowing that there is truth in different perspectives, great leaders look for the common ground. This doesn’t mean that they compromise or settle for less. Rather they understand that real solutions often come from piecing together components of insights and ideas.
5. Rather than getting mired in the awfulness of a situation, great leaders work to understand the problem and pivot to problem resolution. Their lens is one of ‘how do we get this done’ rather than ‘how did we get here’ or ‘why this won’t work”. To be clear, they don’t ignore the difficulties, but they move beyond the barriers. They lead conversation with “how might we do this if we couldn’t fail”, encouraging others to explore and consider new perspectives and opportunities.
6. Relationships are the currency of doing business. Great leader attend to and nurture relationships.
7. Great leaders have humility and can be vulnerable. They have the ability to apologize. Not only do they admit when they are wrong, they recognize that when things go awry, on some level they were wrong. They are more apt to take responsibility when there are mistakes and give credit to others when there is success.
8. Great leaders are life-long learners. They learn from their mistakes. They are curious and early adopters. They live by Neale Donald Walsch’s mantra that “life begins at the end of your comfort zone” and are not afraid to try new things.
9. Great leaders have a sense of humor. They realize the seriousness of the work, but are able to laugh and create joy in the workplace. Those who work with them appreciate the atmosphere they create in which to do the hard work.
10. Great leaders know how to delegate. Delegations can’t be seen as a burden to others. They use delegation to give others the opportunity to develop new skills and develop confidence and competence in themselves. Great leaders also know that you can’t delegate everything. The team also needs to see the leader take on projects as well.
Great leadership usually starts with a willing heart, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference. — Mac Anderson
About the Authors
Pam Thompson MS, RN, FAAN is the CEO Emeritus of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, formerly AONE. During the same time, 2000–2016, she was the Senior VP of Nursing for the American Hospital Association. After retiring in 2017, she now serves as a healthcare consultant and volunteer board member and trustee for several healthcare entities.
Marla Weston PhD, RN, FAAN is the past CEO of the American Nurses Association Enterprise which included the American Nurses Association, American Nurses Credentialing Center and American Nurses Foundation, serving from 2009 to 2018. She now is a consultant and facilitator in leadership development, organizational strategy and growth, and future trends.
