What Makes a Good Leader?

A new study from the University of Buffalo has shown that, compared to egotistical bosses, humble bosses: 1) lead by example, 2) admit their mistakes and 3) recognize their followers' strengths.

The researchers found that these three behaviors are powerful predictors of company growth. Moreover, humility has also been found to foster more learning-oriented teams, more engaged staff and lower employee turnover.

By humble, I don’t mean insignificant or inferior. I mean being modest and respectful of the people with whom these leaders work.

The kind of leadership we have at Makovsky combines the best of both worlds. It’s leadership that is ethical and humane. Ethical leaders do the right thing, even if it’s inconvenient or unpopular. It’s always been a valued part of the culture of our firm and embodies how we do business.

That’s because power in today’s transparent and open world is not power over something, but power that energizes and connects, like a network. You build your power, not by ordering people around, but by finding areas of common ground and opening up a world of possibilities that can only be unleashed through cooperation and trust.