What makes a good leader?

I have heard that it is the ability to communicate a vision and influence the people enough so that they naturally want to help you materialize that vision.

That’s a decent, blanket definition provided we are talking about a person with a vision. What makes a good leader though in a company that has a revolving door of mid-level and upper level managers and directors? I am talking about, what makes a good leader to the very people who are the heart of the company. The ones that are direct labor employees or your standard salaried buyer or supervisor. The ones who, in a lot of cases, have spent large portions of their working life at that company with the revolving doors.

As someone with first-hand experience in this environment, I can honestly say that the most successful turn and burn managers and directors have always had good listening skills. If you show that you care about what people think, they will feel empowered. Because of your position, they naturally look to you to be the problem solver. When they know they can trust you, and they get that feeling by knowing that you listen, you will be able to effect great change and have the people’s cooperation and more importantly, you’ll have their hearts.

But leadership does not happen by position. It happens by design.

Thoughts on business, leadership, what is leadership, leadership style, leadership theories, qualities of a good leader, cooperation, streamlining.