8 Qualities That Make Leaders Memorable

Glenn Llopis , CONTRIBUTOR Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Leaders that strive to be significant seek to create the greatest impact and
influence.   These are the types of leaders that we value the most; inspired by their
courage and resiliency, we seek to emulate them. They are the most respected. 
Leaders that are self-aware, are clear about their identity and expectations, have the
backs of others and can be trusted – they are the ones we instinctively gravitate
towards.  These are the leaders that are rare to find and will not soon be forgotten
by their colleagues and the organizations they serve.   These are the leaders that can
get the most out of very little, are grateful for the opportunity to lead, and always
treat others like family.

Great leaders are the most memorable.  They go about their day leveraging their
distinction   by leading in ways that come most naturally to them.  They are
remembered and admired because they have their own unique style and
approach that supports innovation and initiative and  are known  for making the
workplace culture stronger, more  unified and collaborative.  The most memorable
leaders always set the right tone.  Their presence and charisma are in service to
others and they go out of their way to make their employees feel secure.  They
embrace two-way communication and are active listeners.  They observe the
dynamics around them and take pride in staying ahead of the game.   They are
game changers and are constantly looking for ways to challenge the status quo;
they identify and help course correct those who might bring the organization down
and are quick to solve problems.
The most memorable leaders are change agents – never afraid to confront
complacency and make the required changes to get the organization back on track.  
My boss during my early corporate years was the most memorable leader I have
ever worked for.   Mark quickly and respectfully evaluated the organization, its
talent, shortfalls and the opportunities for growth.  He recognized that the culture
needed a refresh and renewed energy.  He is the boss that helped shaped me into
the leader I am today.  He injected a renewed sense of professionalism in the
organization and made others feel more relevant and important.  He single-
handedly used his unique leadership skills and capabilities to revive an organization
that was growing complacent and needed some real leadership.   I was grateful to
have experienced the transformational impact of great leadership at an early age. It
made me realize that people just want to be led the right way – where they feel
valued and can contribute in meaningful and purposeful ways.

Is your leader memorable for the right reasons – or are you stuck with a leader that
is disrupting your career momentum?

Your leader impacts your career advancement and influences how you think, act and
innovate more than you might imagine.  As you manage your career, be on the
lookout for the following eight  qualities that make your leader extraordinarily
memorable  and positively enrich your experiences along the way.

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1.  Authenticity

The most authentic leaders are the most memorable.   These are the leaders that
don’t play games nor exercise power plays.  They wear their intentions on their
sleeves and make their expectations clear.  Authentic leaders are consistent,
embrace diversity and encourage their people to share their ideas and ideals.  They
know how to convert a melting pot into a mosaic.  They encourage
an entrepreneurial attitude.

Authentic leaders are experts at identifying the unique skill sets that lie within every
person – because they place an emphasis on individuality, one’s unique strengths,
and they allow employees to have a voice that matters and is heard.   They allow
their employees to discover their own identityand assign them roles and
responsibilities where their contributions will enable them to flourish.
2.  Shares Their Wisdom

Memorable leaders are those who enjoy sharing their wisdom and secrets of
success.   These types of leaders are great teachers and are the best mentors.   Their
storytelling abilities alone make them memorable -- but it’s the leadership lessons
they share that you will come to appreciate later in your career because they carry
the most weight and impact.

In fact, I will never advise people about something that I’ve never experienced
(firsthand) myself because of my own experiences with great leaders who have
shared their wisdom with me.  When you advise someone of something that you
don’t know enough about (because you never experienced it), you are potentially
putting that person into a position of great risk.    What is the point?  When leaders
act as if they know the answers when they don’t, they are not doing you any favors.

Every year, I send a handwritten letter to those leaders and mentors who were most
memorable to me and positively influenced my life.

3.  Does What Others Don’t

You know that you’ve worked with a lot of different types of leaders in your career
when the personalities, styles and attitudes of leaders begin to recycle.   As such,
over time leaders become predictable.   The most memorable leaders are truly
unique and have an identity and presence about them that helps them stand out
from the crowd.  They are the ones that support you in ways that others don’t.  
They have your back and will stand-up for you when times get tough.   They sponsor
you at work and help give you a platform to get discovered   and advance your
career.

You know that your leader is unique when they consistently go out of their way to
make you feel that you matter and/or attempt to leverage a skill or competency that
other leaders neglected.  These leaders–are self-aware and trust themselves enough
to appreciate the differences in others.

How many times have you felt that your talent was never fully appreciated or
discovered by your leader?