How to Be a Good Leader（在线收听）

How to Be a Good Leader

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6. Leaders probe and push, making sure their questions are answered with action.

When you are an individual contributor, you try to have all the answers. When you are a leader, your job is to have all the questions. You have to be comfortable looking like the dumbest person in the room. Every conversation you have about a decision, a proposal or a piece of market information has to be filled with you saying, “What if?” and “Why not?” and “How come?” Questioning, however, is never enough. You have to make sure your questions unleash debate and raise issues that get action.

7. Leaders inspire risk taking and learning by setting the example.

These two concepts often get lip service — and little else. If you want your people to experiment, set the example yourself.

Consider risk taking. You don’t need to be somber about your errors. In fact, the more lighthearted you can be, the more people will get the message that mistakes aren’t fatal.

As for learning — again, live it yourself. Whenever I learned about a best practice that I liked at another company, I would come back to GE and make a scene. I wanted people to know how enthusiastic I was about the new idea.

8. Leaders celebrate.

There is just not enough celebrating going on at work — anywhere. Companies win all the time and let it go without so much as a high-five. Work is too much a part of life not to recognize moments of achievement. Make a big deal out of them. If you don’t, no one will.

I am often asked if leaders are born or made. The answer, of course, is both. Some characteristics, like IQ and energy, seem to come with the package. On the other hand, you learn some leadership skills, like self-confidence, at your mother’s knee and at school. You learn other skills at work—trying something and gaining the self-confidence to do it again, only better.