The art of good leadership

Feb 20 2007 By Alan Holmes, The Journal

What makes a great leader? Research shows that the most respected attributes for effective leaders are being trustworthy and competent in their role.

To achieve this, leaders need to make good decisions and implement effective strategy, based on sound understanding. Get it right and you earn the trust.

Good decisions and strategies are underpinned by the effective interpretation and use of evidence. In our experience, good leaders don't rely on a single information source - they take a holistic approach, work hard to make sense of what they have and are open to fresh thinking and new ideas.

The following are just some of the sources and techniques that can be used in decision-making:

• Believing in yourself and your intuition: There's nothing wrong with intuitive power, using experience and recognising how business "feel" and chance play a powerful role in entrepreneurial thinking.

• Using available knowledge: More often than not there is valuable, untapped knowledge within any team and organisation, this knowledge has huge potential to inform and enable effective strategies. The skill lies in unlocking it, sharing it and using it.

• Learning from good practice: Similar organisations, and especially competitors, are a great source of good practice and ideas. Make sure they are not rigidly copied as it's usually true when people say "it's different here". Adaption, rather than adoption, is crucial.

• Analysing existing information and data: Information, reports and analysis are available both externally and inside your organisation. They are not always easy to find, and it can be a challenge identifying the relevant data, but it is well worth the effort.

• Commissioning original research and analysis: This should be goal focused, specific and personalised to your organisation. It can give you a competitive edge through knowledge that the competition doesn't have.

With a talented team of fresh-thinking researchers and consultants, Wood Holmes Group helps clients understand their organisations, communities and markets leading to effective strategies and positive action.

Not everyone needs everything we offer, but everyone benefits from our thinking.

Alan Holmes is managing director of Wood Holmes Group.