The Oxford Character Project, in partnership with the John Templeton Foundation and the Forward Institute, recently published "Good Leadership in UK Business," reporting the results of a survey of over 1,100 participants working in 36 firms around the UK on what makes a good leader. The respondents identified 84 features of good leadership, falling into three main dimensions: character, professional competence, and interpersonal skills.
"Good leadership is essential for businesses to perform at their best—to maintain a positive culture, make the most of opportunities for growth, return value to their stakeholders, and navigate the uncertainties and challenges they face," the report reads.
The survey found that character is the most important aspect of a good leader. Of the identified features, 52% related to character, 33% to interpersonal skills, and 13% to professional competence. Additionally, 55% of the top 20 features concerned leader character.
Leader character is also a key driver of the culture of the organization. "It is particularly as a function of their character that leaders serve as role models who set the tone for organisational culture through their words and actions," the report explains.
Join The Discussion