Source: Linkedin

Lately I read an article on HuffingtonPost that scientists have found DNA sequence associated with leadership qualities. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/15/health-leadership-gene-dna-sequence_n_2479658.html

Well, it has been long debated whether leaders are born or learned which is not the concern of this post. What I want to deep dive is on behavioural DNA of a leader. We all know the fact that good leaders can make a marked impact on an organization’s direction. On the other hand bad leaders which I would take the liberty to call them “managers” can make a devastating impact on an organization and could even sink the entire organization like Titanic. As an explanation, I’ve created an acronym of what leadership DNA means:

Let’s start with D. D is for Dependable. Are you someone people can trust and lean on? A true and authentic leader is dependable. Someone who you can depend on and never forsake you, not only with things pertaining to the organization, but also with personal challenges. It means as a leader you are someone your people can count on and always ready to serve. Leaders understand that helping someone up will never pull them down. Being compassionate is a vital part of leadership.

N is for Novelty. What makes you unique compare with others in your organization? Are you a person of discipline and act in accordance with rules and regulations? Are you a person of courage who is not afraid to step out of your comfort zone and push yourself beyond your limits? Innovation and talent are the basis for leadership novelty. Novelty is your differentiator, your voice when you are not around, and your advertisement of absolute genuine value.Today’s successful and innovative leaders understand the power of branding and its ability to help them stand out for the best role and best compensation. They know that branding is no longer an option in high-stakes executive careers where branded leadership and branded communications are critical tools for leadership growth.

And last but not least A is for Attitude. What attitude do you bring to work everyday? One of the greatest gifts a leader can bring to a team is self-awareness and an understanding of their attitude and the impact it plays on the performance of their stakeholders, and everyone around them. Successful leaders have self-control and know how to respond to daily challenges without ruining the work environment and lowering morale for everyone. Leaders with positive attitude look at the big picture not job functions. Let me quote John Maxwell on how he views positive attitude. In his book, “Developing the Leaders around You”, he says, “A positive attitude is one of the most valuables assets a person can have in life.” It can help you achieve things that may seem impossible to happen.

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Thank you for reading my post. Please feel free to drop me a note if you would like to connect or have any suggestions.