35 Qualities Of A Once-In-A-Generation Leader

“As Matt Dickinson wrote in The Times this week, ‘Money buys you the world’s best attacking goalkeeper, the defensive prowess of Ruben Dias, the ball-playing beauty of Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez and the rest of the brilliant collective… but such wealth does not guarantee you singular creativity or the type of original thought that comes along so rarely, perhaps once in a generation.  It does not automatically buy you relentless, almost insanely driven perfectionism.’  This is what (Manchester) City got when they hire (Pep) Guardiola.”

The previous words are from page 258 of The Athletic‘s Sam Lee, Daniel Taylor, and Oliver Kay book Standing Alone: Stories Of Heroism And Heartbreak From Manchester City’s 2020/21 Title-Winning Season.

This book (click HERE or on the image provided to order) provides an incredible profile of what many consider to be a once-in-a-generation leader, Manchester City futbol manager Pep Guardiola.  As I read its pages, I was able to construct a portrait of what such a leader looks like.

1. A once-in-a-generation leader turns your organization into an industry leader.
2. A once-in-a-generation leader has mutual trust with their inner-circle.
3. A once-in-a-generation leader arrives first and leaves last.
4. A once-in-a-generation leader has humility and respects and builds the dignity of other people.
5. A once-in-a-generation leader learned about leadership from mentors before they ever had their position.
6. A once-in-a-generation leader pursues perfection, almost insanely so.  You know where this pursuit starts, but not where it will end.  In other words, you never know where the pursuit of perfection will take you or your organization.
7. A once-in-a-generation leader shapes their industry.  In other words, there is a difference between being a great leader and leading great.  There are many great leaders but leading great is defining for your individual point and time in human history.
8. A once-in-a-generation leader focuses on creating a championship culture.
9. A once-in-a-generation leader actually enjoys their job.
10. A once-in-a-generation leader wants no politics.  They want to work with close friends whom they are comfortable with.
11. A once-in-a-generation leader attracts talent.  They are talent magnets because people want to work under their “genius”.
12. A once-in-a-generation leader demands results.
13. A once-in-a-generation leader wins but in a beautifully distinct way.
14. A once-in-a-generation leader can’t tolerate losing.  They have to get it out of their system as quickly as possible and don’t want to go through it again.
15. A once-in-a-generation leader thinks big and surrounds themselves with people who do likewise.
16. A once-in-a-generation leader does not tolerate selfishness.
17. A once-in-a-generation leader rewards those who put the vision, culture, organization, and team first.
18. A once-in-a-generation leader does not have to explain all of their decisions.
19. A once-in-a-generation leader does not waste opportunity.
20. A once-in-a-generation leader focuses more on what they are doing than what the competition is doing.
21. A once-in-a-generation leader continually improves, especially when they are winning.  Winning is not enough if it the organization performs poorly in the process.
22. A once-in-a-generation leader is in to multiplication.  They rely on their inner-circle to deliver their values and vision to the team on a day-to-day basis.
23. A once-in-a-generation leader is hyper-focused on preparation.
24. A once-in-a-generation leader knows how to identify and develop talent.  Because…
25. A once-in-a-generation leader knows they will not be as successful without top talent.  Therefore….
26. A once-in-a-generation leader is generous and invests heavily in top talent.  Then…
27. A once-in-a-generation leader liberates and elevates top talent.
28. A once-in-a-generation leader has a once-in-a-generation vision.
29. A once-in-a-generation leader has authority.
30. A once-in-a-generation leader is a skilled motivator.
31. A once-in-a-generation leader is a master communicator.
32. A once-in-a-generation leader is a master strategist.
33. A once-in-a-generation leader has singular creativity.
34. A once-in-a-generation leader has original thinking.
35. A once-in-a-generation leader has relentless passion for their assignment.

What is one thing you read from the list above which can help you potentially become a once-in-a-generation leader?

To learn more about the leadership of Pep Guardiola, click HERE or on the image above to order Standing Alone: Stories Of Heroism And Heartbreak From Manchester City’s 2020/21 Title-Winning Season.

The Top 75 Leadership Quotes From 2021 Part 2 is my latest ebook.  For many entering a post-pandemic environment, leadership looks completely different than the pre-pandemic world.  People are more broken now. They are more uncertain. Fear and anxiousness are unwelcome constant companions. Cultures are more unhealthy. Relationships are more dysfunctional.  Hope seems to be in short supply.  Every day seems to bring a new hacking, natural disaster, or unexpected calamity.

Therefore, the fundamentals of leadership are more important than ever. The quotes in this book deal with the basics of leadership.  If you want to be the best leader you can possibly be, click HERE or on the image provided to download this FREE resource.  The lessons learned from last year, if applied, will sustain you for years to come.