Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

The Universal Qualities of Effective Leadership

By Lance Wright
October 1, 2009

If a group of business leaders was asked, “What’s one of your top priorities in managing your business?” many would respond, “Making sure we have the right persons to lead the business.”
     
From the owner of a professional athletic team, to the head of a government agency, to the CEO of a Fortune 500 company – everyone who looks at the bottom line is concerned with making sure the right leaders are in place to help make their respective organizations more effective.
     
This interest is in large part the result of the now common realization that effective leadership is essential for any organization to gain competitive advantage or deliver on its mission. And while high-profile corporate and political leaders tend to receive the most accolades for effective leadership, many of the best leaders are far from being household names. They usually don’t have responsibility for thousands of people and millions of dollars on a balance sheet. The need for effective leadership extends throughout the entire organization; it does not begin and end at the top. It also covers every organizational function, including HR, legal, operations and security.


Rounding Out a Leader

Although the specific challenges and issues affecting an organization or a function vary widely, the key qualities needed in effective leaders are universal. In my opinion, these qualities are the following:
 
  • Vision Creator. Effective leaders understand where the organization or business needs to go. In other words, they get it. More effective leaders are able to translate the general concepts of where the organization needs to go into a vision of the future. This lays the foundation for the daily steps that members of the organization will take to get there.
  • Able to Get Others to Follow. In the most basic sense, it is very hard to call someone a leader if there is no one following. Sure, there are lots of smart people who may be able to see where an organization may need to go and have the courage to start the journey. However, without the skill and talent to encourage and persuade others to accompany them, such individuals are scouts, not leaders.
  • Effective Communicator. Rarely have I seen an effective leader who was not a good communicator. Admittedly, President Reagan and now President Obama represent the gold standard in the minds of many people when thinking about what it takes to be an effective communicator. In the real world of business in which most of us operate, the leaders who are considered effective communicators are those who are able to speak plainly, clearly, truthfully, honestly and sincerely to others in the organization. We have all heard the buzz word “straight talk.” Unfortunately, straight talk is still a rare commodity in many organizations, but the best leaders practice it effortlessly.
  • Results Oriented. The most effective leaders with whom I have worked want to get things done. They want to accomplish the right things for their organizations. While the personalities of effective leaders may range from the quiet and slightly introverted to the outgoing and gregarious, they all have confidence when it comes to making sure members of their organizations know what is expected of them and how they will be measured in terms of performance.
  • Team Players. Ideally, a strong leader is also part of a team of other strong leaders. As a leader, it is important to have the ability to avoid the pitfalls of excessive turf protection and unhealthy competition with others in the organization.
  • Able to Handle Change. We all have heard phrases like “change is inevitable” or “change is constant” so often that we may have become numb to the fact that these overused phrases are actually true. Leaders who are not thrown off by change, who are able to re-group and plot a new course when needed, are the ones who stand out in my memory. Ambiguity is usually a companion of change, and leaders who are able to operate effectively when there are lots of shades of grey will normally stand out. 

I have been fortunate to work with effective leaders in various countries around the globe. Over the years, my career in human resource management has enabled me to reach my own conclusions about what makes up the core qualities of effective leadership. My set of core qualities may not be as expansive as some lists developed by specialists in organization development and leadership. However, I would be very surprised to find a list of leadership qualities that did not contain variations on the ones listed above.  



Links

  • www.securityexecutivecouncil.com

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Lance Wright is senior vice president of human resources and administration for USEC Inc. His expertise is brought to Security Magazine by the Security Executive Council, a risk mitigation research and services organization for senior security and risk executives from corporations and government agencies responsible for corporate and/or IT security programs. In partnership with its research arm, the Security Leadership Research Institute, the Council is dedicated to developing tools that help lower the cost of security programs, making program development more efficient and establishing security as a recognized value center.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Columns
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    New Security Technology
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Coding

AI Emerges as the Top Concern for Security Leaders

Half open laptop

“Luigi Was Right”: A Look at the Website Sharing Data on More Than 1,000 Executives

Shopping mall

Victoria’s Secret Security Incident Shuts Down Website

Laptop with coding on ground

Stepping Into the Light: Why CISOs Are Replacing Black-Box Security With Open-Source XDR

Gift cards and credit cards

Why Are Cyberattacks Targeting Retail? Experts Share Their Thoughts

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

From animal habitats to bustling crowds of visitors, a zoo is a one-of-a-kind environment for deploying modern security technologies.

August 27, 2025

Risk Mitigation as a Competitive Edge

In today’s volatile environment, a robust risk management strategy isn’t just a requirement—it’s a foundation for organizational resilience. From cyber threats to climate disruptions, the ability to anticipate, withstand, and adapt to disruption is becoming a hallmark of industry leaders.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing