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Now, for the list. My students admire the person who...
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gets the important stuff done every day
- negotiates disciplines/channels to regularize communication/commitment
- asks "What needs to be done?" (Drucker)
- uses time and resources effectively
- sets clear expectations
- avoids micromanagement
- obtains resources necessary to achieve goals
- is organized (e.g., doesn't lose stuff)
- follows up
- avoids useless effort by knowing objectives and goals for every task asked
- forward-thinking about how things should be done
- controls agendas
- manages both personal and team time
- focus on completion (how?)
- gives life to ideas
- is solution-oriented
- leaves schedule open to handle emergent needs
- is flexible
- develops action plans (Drucker)
- runs productive meetings (Drucker)
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learns continually by iterating and testing
- public course corrections to demonstrate learning
- creates a culture of feedback
- normalizes information sharing (especially bad info)
- builds in team and interpersonal reflection
- looks for the fatal flaws, problems, and roadblocks early
- provides structure, standards to measure success
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works with the external environment (the organization, stakeholders, etc)
- knows the culture, but is not straitjacketed by it (consciously counter-cultural when needed)
- connects with and works with stakeholders
- builds buy-in for objectives
- learns from others
- takes responsibility for communicating (Drucker)
- balances task/technical/susbtantive focus with "psychosocial" work (Zaleznik)
- asks "What is right for the enterprise?" (Drucker)
- actively cultivates a "worldly" mindset—e.g., spends time where products are produced (Gosling & Mintzberg)
- focuses on opportunities rather than problems (Drucker)
- is open-minded
- draws on soft data, sustains complexity within hard-nosed analysis (Gosling & Mintzberg)
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knows and manages oneself
- always displays integrity
- takes responsibility for mistakes
- takes responsibility for decisions (Drucker)
- honest, even when news was bad
- secure in own status
- acts with consistency
- never holds an employee back for personal gain
- never talks poorly about another person
- leads by example
- exercises will power and discipline
- refuses to take on too many projects
- schedules own time effectively
- reflects to draw on experiences—digests "happenings" into "experience" (Gosling & Mintzberg)
- cool under pressure; even-keeled
- uses humor in times of stress, to defuse problems
- keeps perspective
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communicates well in the moment
- listens well
- asks inquiring questions in every interaction
- skilled in asking difficult questions
- facilitates conversations, interactions
- offers 100% focused attention
- makes others feel like they can ask questions
- open to other people's viewpoints
- clear and focused in speaking, writing
- effectively frames problems and issues
- takes time to explain what and why; transparency
- empathetic (can walk in another's shoes), and uses that empathy in conversation
- avoids manipulative, indirect interactions, maintains task focus (Zaleznik)
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builds shared commitment to move from ideas to action
- uplifting presence - walks in the room with an optimistic view (sees opportunities vs. problems)
- gives ownership to others
- uses "we" instead of "I"
- presents an inspiring message or big picture within which others can conceptualize their work
- compelling picture of future that represents a dramatic change
- connects actions and tasks to vision
- aligns and shares tasks (how?)
- offers rewards that are special but also consistent with the culture
- cheerleads, encourages team or employee
- tough but fair with explicit criteria, transparent evaluation
- rolls up their sleeves along with you
- gives credit where credit is due
- stands up for employees / team
- trusts team
- makes people feel valued
- accessible; door is always open
- inclusive
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cares, develops, and enables
- defines assignments and tasks by bounding them effectively to enable freedom within them
- recognizes others' differing needs; tailors assignments to individual needs
- gives honest, timely feedback
- gives constructive criticism
- sets stretch goals for teams
- invests time in individual, team development
- empowers via sense of ownership, coaching and hands on experience
- prioritizes development of team members over short term tactical goals
- high E.Q.
- genuine interest in others, you as a person, but appropriately bounded