MODULE 2:  The Qualities of Leadership Part 2

• The skill set involved in entrepreneurship – including taking calculated risks, willingness to welcome feedback, ability to pivot quickly and tolerance to the inevitable discomfort of failure
• How to meet and greet others with confidence
• The humble, careful and wise use of power
• Accepting criticism without becoming defensive
• Being comfortable being challenged by thinkers
• Being known by others for being a straight-shooter
• Knowing how to examine a myriad ethical and moral dilemmas. We discuss how a person applying common-sense would handle such situations. Integrity at every point of your response is strongly encouraged
• Recognising that some situations resolve themselves - having the patience and self-belief to allow things to unfold
• Self-awareness in communication (the ability to respond rather than react)
• The ability to resolve conflict positively and in a good-humoured way (ie: with assertiveness rather than aggression)
• The skill to be aware of others (social awareness)
• How to stay in charge of one's emotions and not be flooded by them
• The power of having a physical presence (presenting a self-assured but humble presence)
• Awareness of our non-verbal signals (body language, both positive and negative)
• Humble extroversion in social situations (confidence without being arrogant)
• The skill of giving honest feedback without hurting people's feelings
• The value of patience: haste often leads to error and misjudgement
• Basic public-speaking skills including use of the chest voice and avoidance of padding language such as um, ah, well and like
• The skill of consultation
• The universal responsibility to pay kindness forward
• Basic table manners and etiquette during a meal
• Recognising that it is strong and smart to seek help; to seek wisdom from others. A potential leader is continuously learning
• When to act and when not to, when to hold and when to fold, when to let it go through to the keeper (all wisdom in action)
• How to have a conversation - something every parent and teacher should be nurturing from as young an age as possible. Since aptitude in such a skill is becoming rarer, skilled conversationalists will stand out at scholarship/job interviews, etc.
• How to listen
• Flexibility of thought: Being a leader often requires the willingness to change deeply held ideas or entrenched habits
• On a quest to achieve a goal, focusing on (i) the positivity of one's intention; (ii) the effort required on the journey to achieve it; and (iii) the importance of applying high moral and ethical standards at all times and, the goal will take care of itself. Focusing on the goal at the expense of the former will lead you sideways and backwards.
• Recognising that how you communicate sets the tone for how the world sees you and treats you
• The value of apologising (teaches humbleness)
• Understanding that the one who forgives first, wins
• Ability to reach out effortlessly to a wide variety of people
• Understanding that to communicate effectively it is more important to care about the long-term outcome rather than about the immediate gratification of being heard, winning, getting the last word, or being right