Great engineering leaders share the same attributes.
Great engineering leaders and managers share the same attributes and behaviors. Leadership is a competency, not a role, so it’s difficult, if not impossible, to isolate a single quality, mind-set, behavior, or attribute that signifies greatness. While great leaders tend to embody many qualities, all working in concert, here are seven attributes that in combination create greatness. These are obviously not the only attributes of a a great leader, but these are on the top of the list. Empathy Empathy and compassion is a critical attribute of great leaders. It’s an important part of emotional intelligence (otherwise known as emotional quotient or EQ). Overall, an empathetic leader interacts with others in a way that leaves them feeling safe and cared for, and as though they have a connection based on trust. The key is your empathy must be genuine and authentic Integrity The importance of integrity should be obvious. Though it may not necessarily be a metric in employee evaluations, integrity is an essential leadership trait for the individual and the organization. It’s especially important for leaders who are charting the organization’s course and making countless other significant decisions. Our research shows that integrity may actually be a potential blind spot for organizations. Communication Effective leadership and effective communication are intertwined. The best leaders are skilled communicators who are able to communicate in a variety of ways, from transmitting information to inspiring others to coaching direct reports. Listening is a critical component to communication with your team. Self-Awareness While this is a more inwardly focused trait, self-awareness and humility are paramount for leadership. The better you understand yourself and recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, the more effective you can be as a leader. Do you know how other people view you or how you show up at work? Take the…