15 Characteristics of a Heartfelt Leader
Chris Boelkes Posted on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 8:03AM Katie McBreen
June 17, 2015
Even if you’ve been in the workforce for just a few years, you’ve likely seen leadership at its best — and worst. In my own career, I’ve seen the good, the bad and the downright ugly from myriad bosses and executives. While leadership comes more easily to some than others, that doesn’t mean those skills can’t — and shouldn’t — be learned and fine-tuned.
Reiff was named a “power player” on The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2015.Melissa Reiff, president and COO of The Container Store and a “power player” on The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future, is probably one of those people who was leading her classmates on the playground long before she ever uttered the word “leadership.” Prior to joining The Container Store, Reiff wrote down 15 characteristics for her two young children that make a heartfelt leader and put it in her safety deposit box to share with them when they were older. Two decades later, those tenets are central to the philosophy of the company she runs — a company that has been named 16 times on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.
Reiff’s views on leadership aren’t typical to the business world. She believes that “you can be sweet, you can be secure, you can be firm and you can be kind all at the same time.” While many in positions of power believe you have to be tough, hard-hitting and guarded to be effective, Reiff’s style is quite the opposite. “I just don’t feel that’s the right approach,” she said. “I don’t think it’s the right environment to keep people happy and motivated and inspired. You’ve got one life. Let’s live it and be happy with it. That doesn’t mean you don’t address things that are tough, but you can do so in the right way.”
The time-tested list of leadership qualities informs her work at The Container Store and has become such an integral part of the company’s culture that it’s shared with employees at new store openings and posted in break rooms.
- Security: Have security in yourself and always assume the best of others.
- Confidence: Dig deep, don’t get intimidated and do it with warmth.
- Positive Attitude: A positive attitude is a choice and it makes the people around you better.
- Maturity: We can control how we react to people, things and circumstances.
- Focus: Truly zero in, focus with excellence, shut out distractions and prioritize accurately.
- Courage: Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and work hard to understand others and bring them along with you.
- Sweet: Be sincere, thoughtful and generous at heart. Put others first. Care enough to connect with different personalities.
- Communication: Care enough to communicate.
- Tenacity: Never give up. Take responsibility and initiative whenever the opportunity arises.
- Humor: Laugh often.
- Agility: Be alert and nimble. Be the one to beat.
- Creativity: Ignite imaginations.
- Commitment: Commit and the universe conspires to assist you.
- Inspiration: Give the gift of inspiration to yourself and others.
- Passion: Have passion for life and in everything you do.
Reader Comments (1)
I was so blessed to interview Melissa Reiff recently for my upcoming third book, "Women on Top: What's Keeping You from Executive Leadership?"
Melissa exemplifies everything Dr. Mark Goulston and I espouse in our two books, "Heartfelt Leadership: How to Capture to Top Spot and Keep on Soaring" and "The WOW Factor Workplace: How to Create a Best Place to Work Culture."
Now the Chairwoman and CEO of The Container Store, I can certainly testify Melissa Reiff is a role model Heartfelt Leader and a role Woman on Top. The corporate world needs more leaders just like her.