5 Traits of a Rock Star Leader

Have you ever experienced the 'joy' of ordering a five piece chicken finger meal at the drive-thru, only to discover (after driving all the way home) that the 'teen-aged professional chicken-packer' forgot how to count to five while fixing your order? I hate when the package arrives incomplete.

The issue of "completeness" is important on many levels - but especially when related to leadership, staff and teams. I have both served-on, as well as built, church staffs and ministry teams for twenty years, and have discovered that a complete-package leader is both rare and glorious! From the moment they step inside the door, they elevate the overall atmosphere, energy and impact of the entire team. These individuals are nothing short of "rock-stars" to any organization.

From my experience, the following list identifies the 'complete package' each of these rock star leaders possess. 

1. Attitude 
     Attitude creates the atmosphere, health and heartbeat of every team - good and bad. 
     For strong teams, this power-house leader's attitude fills the organization with a 
     contagious air of forward thinking, solution-driven, humility-guided, can-do mindset. 
     Their standard is excellence. Their path is team-work. Their goal is success. 

2. Adaptation
     Nothing is static, unless it is dead. Therefore, another key trait of dynamic leadership is 
     the ability to adapt, adjust and flex on the fly. Organizations, like organisms, are always 
     changing. Rock star leaders are able to absorb and advance despite the unexpected-
     shifts, while helping the team process and proceed - stabilizing and protecting the
     organization's boundaries.

3. Action
     Leaders take action to get the job done. These tenacious men and women see 'goals' as 
     giants that have to fall and mountains that must be moved... and they find a way to 
     make it happen. They envision dirty hands as 'sweat-equity' and dented-armor as 
     trophies. Unaffected by the size and scope of the task, these aggressive, passionate, 
     self-fueled, servant-leaders find greater fulfillment in leading a team-win over 
     individual achievement. Yep... they're rock stars!

4. Authenticity
     The core character-trait that every quality leader possesses is authenticity; a lifestyle,
     presentation and conduct that is consistently up-front and genuine. These leaders know 
     that their private life determines the potential in their public life; therefore, the first 
     person they are authentic to is themselves. Their character of integrity establishes a 
     standard of trust, honesty, loyalty and safety among the team that strengthening the 
     organization's over-all success.

5. Aptitude
     Every organization's rock star possesses ginormous aptitude. Although a wall display of 
     diplomas and certificates doesn't guarantee someone's ability to lead, there is 
     something powerful to be said for owning an education. Stand-out leaders understand 
     this and they pay the price to pursue and own an academic skill-set that will serve and 
     maximize their inherent talents and potential. Bottom line... academic-pursuit 
     significantly impacts personal performance, as well as team respect and influence. 

So here is my challenge... don't be so consumed with discovering a 'complete package' leader in your organization that you stop striving to become one yourself. I believe that stronger leaders attract better players and produce greater teams. So, develop yourself while discovering others... and you will begin to see the stars shinning all around you - Rock Stars!