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The Qualities of a Leader, According to Google

4/8/2014

Laszio Block, Senior Vice President of People Operations at Google (a.k.a. the head hiring guy) has said that apart from cognitive ability—by which he means the ability to learn—the most important thing his extraordinarily innovative company looks for in a potential employee is “emergent leadership.”

Emergent leadership, says Block, means that when you are a member of a team faced with a problem you, at the appropriate time, step in and lead. Just as critical, believes Black, is the ability to step back and relinquish leadership to someone else.

We applaud Block’s philosophy. Effective leadership is about enabling collaboration, not hoarding power. Strong leaders have the strength — as Block puts it — “to step back and embrace the better ideas of others.”

Please let us know your thoughts: What leadership qualities do you look for in potential employees and work colleagues? Share your responses to the weekly discussion question on our Community of Practice Forum.

6 Comments

Bbailey

4/10/2014 01:39:48 am

Sounds good in theory, but there are far too many who cannot step back and let others lead. Humans have a long history of power struggles among even those with the same ideas - each wants to achieve the group goals THEIR way, and want control.

How do you change human nature? Not by a catchy philosophical phrase

susan

4/14/2014 04:06:37 am

You are right -- not by a catch phrase will we ever change human behavior. Our thinking has been that people need to see the payoff of collaboration -- and then have the skills to make it happen. And one important piece: Having your say doesn't necessarily mean getting your way. So much here!

Lance link

4/10/2014 03:14:23 am

I think this is one of the most valuable skills any team member can have. To recognize when leadership is needed, and when it is already in place, and to respond accordingly. Typically one person is either too eager to lead and therefor attempts to all the time, when it is needed and when it is not. Then the inverse personality steps back from leadership in all circumstances, even when there is a leadership vacuum.

4/14/2014 04:10:07 am

And also, Lance, seems to be confusion about what leadership means: Stepping forward -- and stepping back -- are both leadership behaviors. As long as people think that leadership is only about pushing an agenda forward, we will have few real leaders.

4/14/2014 04:10:20 am

ann

4/10/2014 08:41:54 am

I wonder whether this is more challenging in large bureaucracies than smaller organizations? I suppose one could be a strong participative leader and acknowledge that the group may have some awesome ideas--even when goals are dictated from above.

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The Qualities of a Leader, According to Google

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