The 5 Key Traits Of A Clutch Leader

Copyright (c) 2010 Chuck Boyce

Entrepreneurs and business owners certainly know the definition of pressure - it tends to be a constant in their professional lives. They all face moments when it looks like the roof is just about to cave in - and, being the boss, they've got all the responsibility on their shoulders if it actually does.

So what's the best way to handle that pressure? As a small business coach, it's one of the biggest issues for my clients.

Well, the Harvard Business Review recently took a look at military leadership - and they also defined the 5 main qualities that top West Point cadets display when they have to be a clutch leader. They also apply to anyone running their own business.

Here are the 5 traits and how they relate to entrepreneurs:

1. Focus

Being able to pinpoint almost with laser precision what needs to be done and how to get it done is invaluable when chaos threatens. Fumbling around with five different solutions at once usually means none of them are going to work.

2. Discipline

This kind of internal fortitude prevents you from sobbing in the bathroom and crying for "mommy" instead of attending to what you need to do. Staying strong and seeing things through means you probably will succeed.

3. Adaptability

Pressure usually is a result of changing circumstances. You need to be able to change up business plans as well as your approach when the time comes, and not hang on to systems that no longer work. Being rigid when just the opposite is called for is the equivalent of banging your head against a wall over and over.

4. Being "Present"

We've all seen war movies where the guy leading the squadron, instead of responding to what's going on and to his men's tension, freezes up. That can happen to an entrepreneur. When panic puts you in a mindset where you're not dealing with what's going on, you put your business at risk.

5. Fear and Desire

Yes, this one sounds a little weird (or maybe like a bad philosophy book). But when you mix both the fear of failure with the desire for success, you keep yourself centered and on track to get past the crisis at hand. One without the other leads to an imbalance.

One more important note on these five traits: experts believe great leaders are not necessarily born with these characteristics, but they learn and develop them. That means working to improve ourselves in these five ways can also help us improve our businesses.

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