Alex Perdikis Admires These Five Traits of Great Leadership

Since Alex Perdikis took over as general manager at Koons of Silver Spring, the dealership has become one of the fastest growing in the Greater Washington D.C. area. You don’t spark growth like that without great leadership skills. The most effective leaders, whether in business or the world stage, share some of the same traits and qualities that make them successful. What is it that makes for a great leader? Here are five traits all great leaders share.

Honesty

At the top of the list, honesty is the single most important leadership characteristic. An organization takes its cue from the top. If team members have the utmost faith in the leader’s honesty and integrity, the organization’s foundation becomes strong. The most effective leaders have a list of core values that are openly available, taught and expected from everyone in the organization.

Focus

The best leaders know how to focus. They think outside the box to come up with solutions that target success. A focused leader thinks through each scenario, contemplates the possible impact and forms strategic plans with one goal in mind – to succeed. Because no plan is completely secure, contingency plans are not left to chance. A focused leader is a prepared leader.

Communication

Efficient leaders are masters at the art of communication. From simple requests to full-blown strategies, communication with team members is vital. Every member must understand the goals leadership espouses, but if the goals are not communicated clearly and understandably, goals mean nothing. From training new team members to developing an open work environment, superb communication skills are key.

Effective leaders not only communicate what they want, but they solicit suggestions, opinions and information from team members. They realize that communication is a two-way street. Team members who work the trenches often understand what’s going on more fully than leaders. The best leaders listen.

Confidence

Confidence is one of the most difficult attributes to maintain. It’s easy to be confident when everything goes right, but setbacks happen. It’s the leader’s job to keep setbacks in perspective and motivate the team. The best leaders know how to make sure everyone stays focused on the larger goal and not become discouraged because of a  temporary stumbling block. If an organization’s leader exudes positive energy, the rest of the team will as well.

Accountability

The greatest leaders take responsibility for the organization’s performance. They take charge when there are problems, monitor performance, step in immediately and take decisive action to avert complications. If something goes wrong, strong leaders take responsibility, avoid spin, refuse to blame others or outside influences and constructively examine the situation.  

Alex Perdikis worked his way up through management and attributes much of his management style success to the years of working in every level of the automotive business. Alex developed a team at Koons of Silver Spring Automotive that is a cohesive unit, each individual working toward the same goal. Clearly, it’s a recipe for success.