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.
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