Seven elements of good leadership

Washington Retail Association  President and CEO Jan Teague has been honored by The South Sound Business Examiner  as one this year’s Washington Women of Influence. Teague became President/CEO of WRA in 1998. She will be serving this next year as president of the national Council of  State Retail Association Executives.

In accepting the award Teague posted seven elements that make a good leader.

1.Treat people fairly.  Being fair is a strong value in what I work to accomplish in my life.  Fairness is a value that my parents taught me.  I have advocated fairness in my job for years and learned that everyone has an opinion on what is fair for them.  I realized early in my career that I was an advocate for fairness and it  was very satisfying.  In my job, I ultimately practice this principle every day.
 Without someone like me speaking up for others who don’t have the time or ability,our democracy would not work.  I often tell people that we have to find ways to participate in our democracy or it doesn’t work.  Associations fill that role in our society and I am proud to help others with their concerns.

2. Make timely decisions.  It’s important to think things through, but decisions  need to be made or others are held up with their work.

3. Be consistent. Appearance, tone, demeanor are all very important in a leader.   We must create personal credibility for others to believe in us and know we are reliable.  You are what you say and do.

4. Listen carefully. Spend more time listening rather than thinking about what you are going to say.  You will be better able to respond to the real concerns if you clearly understand them.

5. Put the values of others ahead of your own.  When others are successful, then  you are successful.  And when they are successful, they want to continue to make further strides towards their goals and ambitions.

6. Voice your opinion.  It’s important to speak up because silence means you are  giving passive approval to what is going on around you.  It is crucial to make your opinions known or leadership will evade you.

7. Volunteer. Find ways to give back to your community,  through a hobby, a child’s sport program, or something related to your work.  Volunteering creates a wonderful opportunity to learn to be a leader among your friends or in your community.  It is also one of the values our country has held that other countries don’t.  It is one of the things that makes this country a great place to live.