The 10 Cs of Great Leaders

geese flyingThe First C: Competitive Spirit.  Great leaders want to improve and be the best.

The Second C: Clutter.  CEOs who can cut through the clutter to focus on the most important, most strategic issues have a competitive advantage over those who become bogged down in busywork.

The Third C: Cohesiveness.  Leaders who excel at building cohesive partner groups know how to sell ideas to partners.  Perhaps more importantly, these leaders know which partners will need convincing and what they will have to do to get each on board with the plan.

The Fourth C: Candidness.  The candid leader can deliver a brutally honest message in an adult –to- adult manner that shows respect to the partner.

The Fifth C: Crystal-Clear Vision.  Great leaders have a crystal-clear understanding of what they want the firm to become, and they immerse themselves in making that vision a reality.  In the process, they inspire the other partners to embrace that vision.

The Sixth C: Curious. The best in breed take notes.  They are always figuring out whom they want to sit next to, network and share ideas with, and learn from .  Great leaders are continually seeking to soak up knowledge.

The Seventh C: Contagious Enthusiasm..  It is the ability to create themes that inspire the firm to take the negative energy of difficult situations and channel it into positive energy.

The Eighth C: Crazy.  Great leaders – or crazies, as we love to call them – don’t follow.  They innovate.  They create.  Crazies have a passionate belief in what they want to achieve for their partners and shareholders, then they go out and do it.

The Ninth C: Change Agent.  Great leaders have the ability to get in the partners’ heads, change their behavior or beliefs, and get the partners to raise the bar for their own performance and the performance of those around them.

The Tenth C: Communication.  Great leaders know how to communicate to different audiences – partners, staff, clients, and members of the community.  The know not only what motivates each partner, but how and why each partner is different.