We stood with tens of thousands of others cheering the Queen as she waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace beneath the red, white and
blue smoke plumes of the Red Arrows’ flypast. Whatever we think about
the monarchy, there is something solid, resilient and determined in the
character of Elizabeth. She has led the nation, and we have experienced
resolute leadership from her for over 60 years.The tributes paid to our Queen as she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee got me thinking about the qualities that make her a good leader. How do these qualities and skills translate to the many people whom we support to improve their leadership abilities?
It’s a real joy when you see a good leader at work. The demands of organisations, commerce and politics cry out for such people. Here are our thoughts on what makes a good leader.
Constancy
The Queen is a fantastic example of this. You would never know if she started the day in a bad mood. In public she is always the same. Good leaders never allow frustrations or dramas from their personal lives to affect the way they relate to others. There is no room for moodiness and unpredictability of temperament in leadership. You can admit and speak of an annus horribilis, but you stay with your job, with your people, and you get it done.
Commitment
When she became Queen at the remarkably young age of 25, Elizabeth made a promise to serve the country for the rest of her life, a job she has done tirelessly since then. She shows every sign of seeing this promise through to the end. Those who inspire others are utterly committed to their causes.
Concern
We know less about the Queen’s relations with those who work for and with her. But a good leader we’ve been lucky to work with this year is genuinely concerned about the welfare of his staff. This doesn’t mean he’s a pushover; he is clear about what the limits of acceptable behaviour are. But you can see that he wants the best for all those in the organisation.
Confidence
True confidence shines through in the best leaders. They don’t need to assert their authority by having fancy titles. They know what they need to do to make their organisation flourish. They do it with style, with very little noise, and absolutely no belittling or contempt for others.
Cheerfulness
People follow and respect those who make them feel good. Those who are grumpy or cranky drain us of energy. In contrast leaders are positive people who see the best in others. Everyone the Queen meets goes away feeling better for the encounter.
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None of these qualities will come easily all the time; some won’t come at all on occasion. But if you lead, or aspire to, then embed these thoughts in your mind:
I am constant
I am committed
I am concerned
I am confident
I am cheerful…
… and see the effect on your behaviour, and in the reactions of those around you.
You may not ever stand on a balcony and receive the deserved and loud affection of thousands. But, be a good leader, and your jubilee will surely come.
See our website for details of how we can help you to succeed in your career.
