40 Characteristics of a Leader

Leadership in the martial arts business is critical to success. Here are 40 characteristics of a great leader.

1. Leaders isolate themselves to recharge and reflect
2. They are experts at learning and knowing peoples names.
3. They are skilled at relationship building
   
4. They keep a journal and capture lessons
5. Learn from their own mistakes and the mistakes of others
6. Unafraid of criticism
7. Value quality vs. quantity
   
8. They are proactive
9. Understand that evil exists and fight it.
10. Understand the times (seasons) in which they live
    
11. They are numerically literate (interested in the numbers)
12. Have a library
13. They are skilled at speaking well of others
14. They are students of excellence in every area
    
15. Leaders rejoice in the success of others
16. They can see how others see them, they can put themselves in other people shoes.
17. They are good finishers, but just good starters.
18. They expect more of themselves than others do.
19. They give without remembering, and recieve without forgetting.
20. They are always Optimistic.They know you get what you expect.
21. Leaders are great asker's of questions.
22. Leaders move outside their comfort zone. The run to opportunity.
23. Habit of prayer or reflection.
24. Willing to do things that others aren't willing to do.
25. They focus on older wisdom - time edits the bad.
26. They are masters of personal appetites
27. They are merchants of hope. Quieter's of fear.
28. They are loyal to those who have been loyal to them
29. Maintain regular habits and schedules
30. Do small things extraordinarily well.
31. They create systems, they make things work.
32. Leaders can take charge in a crisis
33. Leaders are good listeners. Seek first to understand, then be understood.
34. They know everything counts. Pay attention to the details.
35. They create time, reverse procrastination.
36. Leaders anticipate. They look down the road. They have VISION.
37. They are confrontational. (attack problems head on)
    
38. Leaders apply what they have learned. They are doers
39. Leaders invest time and money in personal education.
40. They are 'good' finders in all situations and great 'Sayers' of these finding.