Name/Initials: LB
Title: President and CEO
Company: Alliance Ventures, Inc.

Description

This was shared with me, and I appreciated reading the variety of comments about what makes for the ideal leader.

In my view, an effective senior leader is one who can get things done without creating a wake of discontent in the process. To do it effectively, the leader better have the ability to quickly size up situations, play the appropriate roles and hold individuals accountable for results. Any senior leader is going to confront a wide range of circumstances, constituencies and situations. At the end of the day, things don't just happen -- individuals make things happen, and your job is to find and nurture such individuals. Experience is that the overwhelming number of employees in an organization both expect and respect such behavior. However, when employees at large either don't get it or don't see it at work in their organizations, natural human tendencies tend to take control, and with varying adverse effects on the corporation. These are the ingredients of an organization's culture that over time produce its values -- good, bad or indifferent. Senior leaders, thus, eventually get what they sow.

Name/Initials: David Gimpelevich
Title: Partner
Company: Spearpoint Capital

Description

The ideal leader has two complementary yet contradictory traits. He at once knows how to take counsel from the best around him, and knows how to mobilize the enterprise around the selected strategy. He has perseverance through adversity, but also the flexibility to re-examine his strategy and turn the corporate ship as needed. He knows how to recruit advisors who are smarter than he is and how to keep them aligned with the enterprise objectives. He does not confuse his personal beliefs and agendas with the good of the company. He pays equal attention to numbers and the soft factors and is willing to stay with long-term value creation in the face of short-term fluctuations. He is pragmatic, never idealistic, and willing to break the rules if doing so will increase the long-term value of the firm. On the other hand, he is not a rebel for rebellion's sake. He has a strong personality but is not an egomaniac. He despises power but is willing to wield it. He is forceful yet persuasive, persistent yet never obstinate, smart yet has no need to be the smartest.

Description

The ideal corporate leader is a person with strong character and unwavering principals. The kind of leader whose actions are consistent with his words. The result is an atmosphere of trust that subordinates find magnetic. It is easy to follow someone during prosperous times but the real test of leadership comes during adversity. The road ahead is not clear, the options are many and compromise is the easy course. This is where trust in a leader with a strong vision and clear principals prevails.

Name/Initials: BB
Title: CEO

Description

The true leader places the well being of the organization well above the well being of himself or any one individual in all decisions. In addition, he or she understands the value of and the techniques employed to truly motivate the individual to attain standards of excellence in all pursuits. Last, he is the organization's best role model in all aspects of leading. 

Name/Initials: Bruce Babashan
Title: President
Company: LeaderBridge

Description

Ideal leader: A coach-like personality. Focuses on creating learning organizations. Is guided by a belief system (uses a moral compass not a moral barometer) when making decisions (not a situational ethics and a healthy faith in God is good). Practices servant leadership but is highly aggressive and very competitive. Is self aware and able to objectively grade their own performance and learn from mistakes. Intelligent but not overly analytical with a strong ability to craft vision from distant parts. A good talent scout with the ability to match talent with organizational need. Delegates and gives the responsibility and authority so others may act. Trusts few but has faith in all and manages strong personalities well (team builder) and welcomes dissent when seeking advice. Makes decisions quickly and is slow to change once committed. Someone willing to take calculated risks, but, informs his troops prior to engagement of the risks and sells the idea. Thick skinned and politically savvy, however, not a political creature (someone who does not need to lead but is called to do so). Willing to risk their position for a belief they hold and understand that all jobs are just temporary. A reader and historian. 

Name/Initials: BEL
Title: V.P. Operations

Description

The ideal leader should know his own strengths and weakness', he should know all he can about who he leads and he should know his business so well that those he leads are always convinced that he is the best for the job and are happy to keep it that way. 

Name/Initials: SN
Title: CFO Fortune 500

Description

Our CEO is like a great Ring Master at the circus. He keeps everything organized and the customers cheering for more.

Name/Initials: Eric N. Watson
Title: Executive Director of Diversity and Workforce Capability.
Company: Williams

Description

Ideal Modern Corp. Leader is a people manager, developer, promoter that understands work is achieved by Her/His people and knows that's how you get results. They Model the behaviors they expect of others. They drive performance through clear articulation of goals and accountability for attaining them. A good leader knows one's self. There is recognition of who you are, where you are going and how to get there. An authentic action/results oriented leader embraces change and diversity. They engage people in getting work done at a level where there is ownership, trust and value both ways. Therefore people are willing to give discretionary effort to get work done and exceed expectations. They do what they say and at the end of the day they are experts at their business and people! 

Name/Initials: CF
Title: CEO

Description

You once told me "a company exists to create and maintain customers." I always liked that. My husband even had it engraved on a plaque for my nightstand so it's the last thing I see at night and the first thing in the morning. By extension it's a leader's job to optimize the corporate environment for that to happen. That's what I do every day and the shareholders are happy.

Name/Initials: BMM
Title: VP Strategic Planning

Description

Ideal leader has excellent communication skills (which includes ability to listen) and is able to make decisions regardless if the decision lacks support. 

Name/Initials: Doug Dean
Title: ceo
Company: Elliot Health system

Description

Integrity, competence, courage.

Name/Initials: IR
Title: business development consultant

Description

good listening skills an ability to filter information and retain what's important good verbal skills; succinct but clear easily understood goals and objectives consistent demonstrates integrity shares credit builds self esteem provides opportunities for personnel to grow welcomes diversity and "out of the box" thinking doesn't sweat the small stuff can assimilate diverse opinions and methodologies to derive synergy

Name/Initials: WB
Title: CEO/Chairman

Description

When I gave your team your first search assignment here what did I ask you to find? I asked you to find us a Blind Pilot. And you did. To use your expression: think about it. [We extracted somebody from his competition. The candidate's core trait was a known ability to get things done even in hostile and collapsing environments. And that's our best shot at what a Blind Pilot is!--TS Newhart. Note: this is the same CEO that compared himself to a snake in a previous issue of Corporate Warfare here. ] 

Name/Initials: PFK
Title: Partner

Description

Integrity is the #1 trait, ability to listen and communicate clearly, lead from in front and not from behind, ability to behave appropriate in cross cultural situations, does not abuse staff, considers their #1 Job to be that they are responsible and accountable for ensuring their people are successful...

Name/Initials: RKK
Title: President
Company: PharmiKom

Description

The ideal modern corporate leader should at all times put the interest of the company (state) before that of the progress, pride and position of the chief executive (dictator). 

Name/Initials: George Vukotich
Title: Educator

Description

The definition I came up with a few years ago that seems to have the most impact is plain and simple: "Leadership is about getting things done and making s--t happen."

Name/Initials: Tom Csathy
Title: President
Company: T.I. Csathy Associates

Description

The person who can 

1) select the best next layer of management, and 

2) infuse the enterprise with common purpose/vision/commitment

Name/Initials: A L D
Title: president

Description

There is a list of attributes that a perfect leader must have: vision, charisma, courage. In addition, a style of leadership that is inclusive. I offer that commitment philanthropy is the cornerstone for modern leadership. It may be similar to Cincinatus giving back the power. Today it means using money and power to invest in human capital.

Name/Initials: Raymond G. Saleeby
Title: CEO
Company: Sage Professional Services

Description

The ideal corporate leader is a leader with an ideal corporate staff. Surround yourself with integrity, quality thinking and a group that is willing put in the extra effort required if you want to increase your chance for long term success. Show the goal, motivate them to run towards that goal, run with them as well and congratulate their victories. In my opinion, leadership is a talent, a rare quality, that is used positively by some and abused by others. 

Name/Initials: VG

Description

The "Ideal Modern Corporate Leader", should be a good listener, a teambuilder, exhibit respect for others and possess the aptitude and talent to develop people.

Name/Initials: Ross Berlin
Title: Vice President-Title Sponsor Relations
Company: PGA TOUR, Inc.

Description

An important trait for the Ideal Modern Corporate Leader: he/she should inspire and motivate others by virtue of his/her business rhetoric and business actions/decisions and personal behavior/integrity. (NOT SOME OF THE ABOVE, BUT ALL OF THE ABOVE.)

Name/Initials: P. A. Melita
Title: Director, Corporate Compensation
Company: American Red Cross

Description

The Ideal Modern Corporate Leader is one whose hallmark or guiding principle is humility. The essence of leadership is from the Tao - in the end they will all say we did it ourselves. While such ability cannot be taught, it can be learned. 

One of the best exemplars of this is Abraham Lincoln.

Name/Initials: LGS
Title: VP

Description

Charismatic (think Bill Clinton), personable (think Mary Kay Ashe), strategic (think Bill Gates), motivational (think Martin Luther King Jr.), self-effacing (think Mother Theresa) 

A combination of someone who has the vision of where to go, the ability to make people want to go there, the talent for showing them how to get there and the intuitive sense to celebrate with them the milestones along the way.

Name/Initials: Kathy Brosmith
Title: VP HR
Company: Motorola

Description

Balances long term/short term view of corporate strategy High credibility with investment community World Class at relationship building Inclusive to others' ideas and opinions understands and drives short term and long term product delivery and life cycles- manages in the right time- uses past practices and lessons and manages for the future. 

Name/Initials: Steve Marino
Title: Controller

Description

Must be visionary, and confident enough to allow others to further develop the vision. Must be a good communicator, able to inspire the confidence of all stakeholders. Must be able to motivate key people to drive toward the vision without regard to functional boundaries. Must be recognized as a role model for high ethical standards, and intolerant of unethical practices.

Name/Initials: MRO
Title: VP of Sales

Description

Number one is Integrity. Must be consistent in positions and beliefs....never wavering from convictions. Strong and Open communicator...tells the good along with the bad. Gives credit to subordinates ahead of 'blowing his own horn' Delegates his/her authority and decision making capability and stands by the decisions of subordinates. Fosters teamwork through active participation of his/her employees in key decisions effecting the business/firm. Leads by example in things like work ethic, integrity, communication with employees and passion for the business. Passionate about the company, the business objectives and the opportunities for success. Creative in developing new products, offerings, strategies and markets. Thinks family first, company and then himself or herself lastly. Balance between work and personal life....finds time for family, works hard and creates fun energetic atmosphere.....promotes positive attitude and work environment. 

Name/Initials: WWPeck
Title: Founder & CEO

Description

Must have/be: empowering, communicator (at podium and on shop floor), sharp focus on the quality and development of people, passion for the business, balance in life outside corporate setting, tenacity and determination to power through barriers, unquestionable integrity, humility and confidence (these are not opposites), lifetime learner, strategic viewpoint and ability to state the vision of the future state for the organization. 

Should/must NOT have/be: micromanager, insular, self-worth bound up in title or current job scope, short term-only focus, unable to admit mistakes, importance defined by busyness of calendar, unable/unwilling to interact with the lowliest member of the firm.

Name/Initials: JBS
Title: VP - Regional Programs

Description

Ideal Corporate Leader Possesses - basic grounding in the purpose of the company, the balance between long term care for the employees and services (even in light of required downsizing). Recognition of the long term implications of moves and decisions - accepts the dilemma of investment in research and infrastructure as well as the performance for short term success and daily market position. Humility as a steward of the invested capital and people - not as king and internal robber baron Communication to engage and use emotional intelligence to recognize the role of work beyond cash generation. 

Be an appropriate idealist -- yet recognize the reality of business survival. We all will be a part of the global family once we listen to our own moralistic pronouncements.

Name/Initials: herb hribar
Title: md eircom wholesale and networks
Company: eircom

Description

- a person who is motivational and gets the very best from all of his people, - a person who can distill an idea of vision down to something simple that can be effectively communicated to every member of the corp team, - a person who can withstand pressure and be counted on to do the right thing, - a person with enough experience to know when there is enough information and analysis to make a decision, - a person who is willing to take well thought out risks, - a person who is acutely customer focused and uses effective customer relationships to understand the real market and infuse high energy into the organization.

Name/Initials: Peter Ratican
Title: Managing Director
Company: The Ratican Group

Description

The most important attributes are 1.) to be a good listener ( both inside and outside the organization and top to bottom within the organization), 2.) to have the ability to articulate and define problems, 3.) to choose which problems should be worked on first (prioritize), 4.) to develop consensus on a corrective action plan our ranking of which are the best opportunities to pursue, and 5.) to properly delegate authority and resources to those responsible for implementing the action plan. Then comes the often forgotten part of monitoring the progress and controlling the outcomes. 

Name/Initials: patrick beckstead
Title: managing director
Company: northwest airlines

Description

intelligent / progressive / globally minded (understands world markets and advantages of doing business overseas) / people person (knows how to listen but stay objective) / integrity based / sense of humor

Name/Initials: Bill Champitto
Title: Partner
Company: Maxiom Solutions

Description

Vision. Insight. Results. I feel so strongly in the power of these three traits (and in the ability to communicate them in a concise and effective manner), I've incorporated them as my company's tag line. 

Name/Initials: DB
Title: VP HR

Description

As has always been the case, ideal modern leaders need to have fabulous leadership and motivational skills to keep employees up in a down market, devoted to the success of the company (however large or small). It is, after all, people that make a business run and everything else is secondary. Modern leaders need a degree of fearlessness that was not usually necessary in the past---risk taking and stick-to-itiveness that was not needed in the past.

Name/Initials: Franz Pool
Title: Managing Director

Description

A conscientious, empathetic driver with broad vision but focused attention. Acumen in finance, marketing, and planning.

Name/Initials: Scott
Title: The Suit

Description

Must Haves: Consistency Clarity Good Communicator Compassionate Willingness and capability to listen Willingness to take and make the tough decisions, even if not popular Adaptable Willing to make personal sacrifices 

Must Avoids: Arrogance Unpredictable Puts self before others Dictatorial Capricious Close minded Unwillingness to change 
 

Name/Initials: JF
Title: Marketing & PR Director

Description

An Ideal Modern Corporate Leader is smart enough to hire smart people and then ALLOWS THEM TO DO THEIR JOBS AND MAKE DECISIONS. A Control Freak who needs to review every memo and email generated from their entire staff, or who needs to be consulted for approval on black vs. blue paper clips, is counter-productive. An Ideal Leader respects chain of command and does not undermine the authority of individual department heads by insisting on approving every decision he or she makes. An Ideal Leader freely dispenses credit and praise when it is earned and values performance and expertise over internal politics. An Ideal Modern Corporate Leader puts the needs of the group before his/her own self-serving needs.

Name/Initials: Joe Grimaldi
Title: CEO
Company: Mullen

Description

A person worth following by virtue of vision, ability, commitment, care and trustworthiness. A tirelessly infectious energizer focusing his/her people on the possibilities of the tomorrow while also successfully navigating current day realities and needs. Some one who can make the enterprise a cause that greatly exceeds the economics, and harnesses the emotional will and energy of his/her people.

Name/Initials: Allen Hagerman
Title: CFO
Company: Canadian Oil Sands

Description

Vision, fair, but tough when needed, ethical. Ability to communicate the vision and business plan to the company and stakeholders. Believes in open and transparent disclosure. Empathy. Competitive, likes to win, but good loser. Not afraid to make and admit he/she made mistake and to learn from it.

Name/Initials: Robert Prieto
Title: Chairman Emeritus

Description

Ethics Vision Focus Drive

Name/Initials: T.T. Hinton
Title: Co-founder and Co-owner
Company: Facon Traditionnelle

Description

The ideal leader is one who directs company and personal actions in manners he/she believes will bring the greatest value to company stakeholders over a time horizon consistent with the stakeholder goals. I use the word stakeholder because I believe the ideal leader has the very difficult responsibility to balance the interests of all stakeholders (employees, investors, business partners, and committed customers). They should have a certain charisma and be "open" with all (this stimulates a free interchange of ideas), should be able to control his/her ego for the same reason, should be a team-builder (after all, the company normally should survive and flourish without "the person", and should be able and willing to delegate responsibility and hold those recipients fully responsible. A leader must also behave in a manner that demonstrates he/she is in control, without being domineering or dictatorial, and has a vision and strategy for achieving the balanced goals of the stakeholders. These latter points are critical, because the stakeholders must have confidence that the ship's rudder is in the right hands. That also mandates that a good leader will possess excellent communications and negotiations skills. Today's leader is also different from those that characterized the latter '90s. Today, one must be much more pragmatic about business and growth targets, and have "4 eyes" -- one on the general economic trends that bear on the particular business segment (to insure that decisions are being made in the right context); one on the competitive battles (to achieve the best positioning possible for company resource allocations and with business partners and customers); one on the employee situation (I'm still a strong believer that motivated employees are very important to a company); and last but not least, one on the interests of the investors and how that interest might be changing over time. Finally, the best leader will realize that in this day and age, the notion of business alliances and partnerships are highly valuable to achieving success. Just as there has rightly been a focus on the supply chain in business, there needs equally to be a strong focus on defining and building the optimal Go-To-Market Chain.