Leadership Characteristics Archives | Van Hooser Associates, Inc

May 18, 2021

Grow or Swell… Are You Creating Positive Leadership Goodwill?

Negative or Positive Leadership? Picture it. Eighty-five top managers from a well-known national organization jammed into a meeting room for a one-day leadership retreat. I wanted to get the group involved quickly, so I began with a simple exercise “Think of the best leader you’ve ever known…” I asked them. “…then write down the characteristics […]

Mar 11, 2021

Leadership Vision: 4 Steps to Create Yours

I often ask clients and audience members to share leadership traits they value. Predictably, many mention leadership vision. And rightfully so. The dictionary defines vision as, “the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination and wisdom.” Certainly, thinking, planning, imagination and wisdom are valuable characteristics for leaders. Yet, for me, a second, […]

Feb 22, 2021

6 Inexcusable Leadership Flaws

We have a whole section in our leadership management training we call “unpardonable sins of leadership.” These leadership flaws are the actions and attributes that so obviously hamper good leadership that many people find them inexcusable. Take a couple minutes and do a self-check, your leadership reputation is worth it.

Jan 12, 2021

Intentional Leaders Steer Where They Stare

Several years ago, I took a motorcycle safety class. During the course, the instructor made a statement that applies not only to successfully riding a bike but also to successfully leading. The instructor said, “When you get on the bike, remember this: you will steer where you stare.” The same is true for intentional leaders. […]

Nov 11, 2020

Consider Leadership from Two Viewpoints

To be the best, leaders shouldn’t think they’ve arrived. Instead, they should evaluate their leadership effectiveness from where their people want them to be. Let’s consider leadership from two different viewpoints.

Nov 3, 2020

Most Important Question a Leader Can Ask

Leadership credibility is hard enough to come by. And an indifferent attitude toward employees can be the kiss of death. So how can leaders counteract indifference? Here’s an example to illustrate what I believe is the most important question a leader can ask to combat indifference and build employee engagement.

Oct 20, 2020

3 Leadership Skills to Bring Out the Best

Leaders in most every industry want to know what they can do to bring out the best in their people. Here are three distinct leadership skills to help any leader, at any time create an environment where people and performance flourish.

Sep 1, 2020

Leadership Sin

People regularly lose their golden opportunity to lead for one of three reasons. They either don’t recognize, or refuse to stop doing those things followers despise. What leadership sin do employees and followers detest? Keep reading.

Aug 5, 2020

Walk the Talk: How’s Your Leadership Credibility?

During the leadership management training I conduct, people often share the clearest perspective on great leadership. They also come up with some of the biggest problems leaders create for themselves. One person brought up the critical issue of leadership credibility. In short, why is it important for leaders to walk the talk? And what happens […]

Leadership Characteristics