Find Your Inner Dimon


When times get really tough, and your organization is in crisis, being a good leader may not be enough; you’ll need to be a strong one too. In my latest Change Bytes newsletter, “Stepping Up: Are You a Strong Leader?” I told you about some of the important characteristics of strong leaders. From well-founded values to knowing when to step away, strong leaders are decisive and firm in fluid, difficult situations.

Arguably the most important characteristic of a strong leader is simply stepping up to the challenge, and having a willingness to make hard decisions and take responsibility for the actions of your company and colleagues. No matter your feelings about large corporate banks and their role in the Great Recession, it is clear that JPMorgan Chase CEO Jaime Dimon is a strong leader. In the wake of the 2008/2009 stock market crash, bank stocks were hammered, and many of Dimon’s fellow CEOs lost their jobs. Not only did Dimon keep his, but his out-spoken and candid television appearances eventually earned him the reputation as the unofficial spokesperson for the entire industry. While other CEOs hid in their offices, issuing written statements about the health of their companies and the Banking Industry, Dimon stood before the United States Congress—not once, but twice!—to answer difficult, sometimes angry, questions about his company’s responsibility for the Recession.

Certainly Dimon has made mistakes (doing a Google search of his name brings up almost as many stories and blog postings about his failings as his triumphs), but through it all he has taken public responsibility for his company’s mistakes, deflected praise to his subordinates, and remained a steadfast and public champion for his business and his industry. These are the qualities that put Dimon at the top of almost every list of the world’s best CEOs year after year, and these are what make him a strong leader. Not a perfect leader, but a strong one.

I’d love to hear from you! Use the comment section below to tell me about a time when you, or someone you know, have been a strong leader.

Remember, you can change it…we can help!

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