Being a great leader is needed whether you are a manager at a company, and an executive, entrepreneur, solopreneur, freelancer, and the list keeps going. You will always be leading someone. It can be a team, your clients, or just you.
Yesterday was President’s Day where we celebrate the US presidents. In the past, this day was known to celebrate the first president George Washington, and then Abraham Lincoln. Both their birthdays are in February. George Washington’s is on February 22, and Abraham Lincoln’s is February 12st. However, it is now to honor all presidents that we’ve had in the United States.
Everyone has their favorite Presidents. Mine are:
- Franklin D Roosevelt
- Abraham Lincoln
- Dwight Eisenhower
- George Washington
These are some of the great leadership skills that great US Presidents have:
Communicated a Clear Vision and Goals
FDR had the New Deal, Lincoln had a clear vision of abolishing slavery and Eisenhower. If you don’t know why you are doing and the goals to get there, then how do you expect to lead your team to victory?
Made Decisions Even During Stressful Times
It would be great if everything always ran smoothly, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. Therefore, leaders need to make smart and thoughtful decisions even during stressful situations. They understand that they have a bunch of people depending on them, so they have to make sure to make decisions that are not beneficial for them but to everyone. For a president, this is the country. Dwight Eisenhower created the first command center for the newly-created NATO, FDR had to bring American out of the Great Depression and then lead them through World War II. Throughout this, they made sure to involve other people in brainstorming different ideas and coming up with the most effective in keeping the US moving forward. You have to do that. You have to make sure that you don’t work in a silo and work with others to develop ideas and execute them to reach success.
They Make Sacrifices
US Presidents have made sacrifices to keep the country running. George Washington was a reluctant president, but he continued being president because he knew that he represented the strength and determination that the new country needed to build a foundation that we still have hundreds of years later. As a leader, you have to put your team and clients before you, and this is why it’s important to have a strong, clear vision. If you don’t have one, then you don’t know and won’t make sacrifices.
Remove Their Egos Out of the Way
To be the US President would make many people’s heads get bigger than the country because their egos would be overinflated with self-importance. Great presidents don’t let their egos get in the way and realize that they are not as important as the person next to them. Abraham Lincoln visited battlefields and hospitals during the Civil War, Thomas Jefferson was so down-to-earth that once a diplomat who came to the White House and had no idea he was speaking to Jefferson because he didn’t have any airs about him. When someone gets too cocky and starts getting too important for his/her good, the person will stop collaborating with others and stop being receptive to different opinions even if they are different than his/her. Yes, you are a leader, but that doesn’t mean you are better than anyone else. Remember that.
Have Big Ideas and Work Hard to Achieve Them –
Theodore Roosevelt created the Panama Canal that is still a huge part of trade today, Thomas Jefferson expanded the country, Woodrow Wilson created the Federal Trade Commission, this is what leaders need. Big ideas and working hard to achieve them with other people.
These are the five main leadership traits that US Presidents have that has made them able to keep the country and the people to continue striving towards success.
What US President do you think had the strongest leadership quality?
