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Few of us are intuitive observers. We may watch the behavior of others,
but in the daily rush of activity it isn't so easy to isolate what specific
actions are making others successful, or unsuccessful, in their performance.
For instance, if you had the opportunity to observe a world class surgeon

perform a complicated operation, when it was over would you have a hard
time saying what he or she specifically did or did not do that made the
operation successful? On the other hand, if a medical student with a
written checklist of key surgical behaviors for that operation watched, he
or she could continually compare the surgeon's actions with the checklist
and learn a great deal about what the surgeon was and was not doing to

succeed.
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The list of desirable behaviors for leaders is extensive. Effective leadership
is a complex of different but related behaviors. Some of the more
important behaviors are discussed in the following pages. Clearly,
leadership is not about any one characteristic or behavior such as integrity.

Although each behavior is important, it is the effective integration of these
behaviors into a leader of character that is critical. In the following
discussion of key positive leadership behaviors, it will be evident that a
considerable overlap exists among them. Although each behavior is
distinct, each of them reflects aspects of related behaviors.

Being Trustworthy

The leader who does not trust enough will not be trusted. Lao Tsu.

Among all the attributes of the greatest leaders of our time, one stands above
the rest: They are all highly trusted. David Horsager, author of The

Trust Edge: How Top Leaders Gain Faster Results, Deeper Relationships,
and a Stronger Bottom Line.

One key leadership characteristic that also seems to be integral to all other
characteristics is the ability of the leader to generate and sustain trust.
Trust is the glue that holds an organization together. Highly respected
professionals such as Steven Covey suggest that establishing a sustainable

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http://www.yoursoulatwork.com/competencies.htm
David Kolzow 59