THE MAKING OF AN EXCEPTIONAL

LEADER

Presentation by: Phil Maduagwu (2019)

GreenBridge Consulting Limited
 MRS. PHIL MADUAGWU
Phil has served as Human Resources Lead for several organizations. She has
through her experience built an in-depth knowledge of people management
across multiple sectors. It is this experience that she brings to bear in all of her
endeavours and projects.

She is passionate about growing leaders for corporate Nigeria. She has worked
with various charities and has set up a fluid mentoring programme where she
works with and supports young professionals in the Human Resources space
and outside of it. She sits on the board of several companies and is a prolific
writer who currently contributes on both professional and soft areas to several
journals, magazine and newspapers within and outside Nigeria.

She is a leadership advocate, a female advocate, a relationship and HR blogger.

Phil currently serves as Managing Director, GreenBridge Consulting
What is Exceptional Leadership
• Exceptional leadership is leadership
beyond good leadership, it is great
leadership.

• Exceptional leadership is defined by

the level of excellence for which a
leader strives regardless of their
external circumstances.
 Some Qualities of Exceptional Leaders

• Be a Great Communicator
• Be Transparent
• Have Unquestionable Integrity
• Be Forward Looking (Innovative)
• Be Guided by Fairness/Equity
• Be Inspiring
• Have Charisma
• Lead by Being
• Be Accountable
1: Be a Great Communicator
• Great leaders are exceptional communicators and orators
• They create an environment where people feel comfortable
• Exceptional leaders know when to speak and when to listen
• They are approachable.
2: Be Transparent

• Exceptional leaders are authentic and open

• They are not masked; they do not have multiple personalities
• They remove all uncertainty and are consistent in their behaviour.
• Exceptional leaders involve their followership in decision making
3: Have Unquestionable Integrity

• Exceptional leaders adhere to unwavering good morals

• They are uncompromisingly ethical and principled
• They take decisions and act based on sound values
• They are totally honest and admit their mistakes
4: Be Guided by Fairness/Equity
• Exceptional leaders operate by the rules
• They treat others with kindness, they respect everyone
• They do not ask others to do what they would not do themselves
• They mete out treatment based on what is fairly deserved
5: Be Inspirational

• Exceptional leaders are fueled by passion and purpose

• They stir the heart, minds and spirits of their followership
• They are unrelentingly positive and they spread this positivity
• They are grateful to their followers, they recognize and reward
• They get people to collaborate in the service of something greater
than themselves.
6: Be Charismatic

• They are not empty show-persons or crowd pleasers

• They draw on wisdom and knowledge to guide the followership
• Exceptional leaders show empathy and are compassionate
• Exceptional leaders show charisma by being confident, yet
humble
• They monitor themselves and hold themselves to high standards
6: Be Consistent
• They maintain the same demeanor whether things are going well
or everything around them is crumbling.

• They do not stress their followers by being unpredictable

• Exceptional leaders do exactly what they say they would do

• They keep their commitments and are honourable

7: Lead by Being

• Exceptional leaders lead by example

• They are truthful. Inaccurate representation affects everyone
• They are courageous. Walk through fire (a crisis) first
• They acknowledge failure so the followership knows it okay
• Exceptional leaders create solutions. They don’t dwell on problems
• They roll up their sleeves and get into the work
8: Be Forward Looking (Innovative)

• They either think out of the box or they do away with the box
• They are constantly finding new and easier ways to do things
• They motivate people around them to turn great ideas into reality
• Exceptional leaders share their vision to encourage their team
9. Be Accountable

• They are willing to answer for the outcomes of their choices and
behaviour
• Exceptional leaders do not blame others when things go topsy-
turvy
• They know they are servants and are answerable to others
• Exceptional leaders know that they are not above the law; even if
they made the laws
10: Be Self Preserving

• Exceptional leaders take care of themselves

• They engage in life long learning and development
• They lead a well balanced life infused with fun and play
• They know that they are rare and their followers need them
• They grow other leaders to avoid a void
 CLASS EXERCISE

1. CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED LEADER

CLASS EXERCISE

1. You have chosen your preferred leader.

2. Pick an exceptional leadership trait from the basket

3. Hurdle with your group and discuss for 3 mins how

your preferred leader exemplifies the chosen trait

4. Choose someone to talk about it for 3 mins

A good leader leads from above.

An exceptional leader leads from within.

M.D ARNOLD