Eight Traits of Gladiator Leadership

In the movie "Gladiator," actor Russell Crowe faces certain defeat in battle, but rallies a group of men to victory. Who in your company possesses that distinguished leadership ability?

This down-turned economy calls for leaders to step up and give employees a cause for which to fight, says management consultant Gregory Smith and author of "Here Today, Here Tomorrow: Transforming Your Workforce from High-Turnover to High-Retention."

Here are Smith's eight traits of gladiator leadership:

1) Gladiators have a mission for which they are passionate about.
To use another movie example, in "Saving Private Ryan," actor Tom Hanks was able to unite his soldiers in the mission of finding and rescuing Pvt. Ryan. Determine your mission and be passionate about it.

2) Gladiators create a vision.
Communicating a clear picture of a set goal will lead to its achievement. In business, an executive may create the enemy--the economy, the competition or inefficiency--and challenge the energy of colleagues to fight against it.

3) Gladiators lead from the front. They don't dictate from the back.
Working "in the trenches" shows that one is not too high and mighty to get the hands dirty and it helps one understand the issues others are facing. It also helps to inspire loyalty among colleagues and employees.

4) Gladiators understand there is strength in teams.
Where would you be without your employees? A gladiator leader has the skills to draw people together, yet doesn't hog the spotlight. A good leader truly cares for the team, shows compassion and wants every member to be recognized for his/her efforts. Such a leader becomes an easy target, but in a cohesive team, everyone tends to protect the leader. Old style "command and control" is waning, and younger workers tend to be loyal to their coworkers.

5) Gladiators encourage risk-taking.
If company leaders don't examine its ways of doing business or doesn't push its boundaries and think outside of the box, they may never make mistakes, but they will also never succeed beyond their expectations.

6) Gladiators keep their cool in a crisis.
A good leader must be graceful under pressure. It's the surest way to build credibility. Gladiators don't retreat due to the slowing economy, but look for opportunities.

7) Gladiators prepare for battle every day.
Business leaders must be obsessed with training and developing their employees to hone their skills in good and bad economic times. Leaders must also learn what's necessary to survive and progress. Just because a management style worked 10 years ago doesn't mean it'll work in today's environment.

8) Gladiators are teachers and mentors.
In today's rapidly changing environment, leaders must train and teach their employees the knowledge they have acquired. When the economy shifts to a more positive outlook, the good, loyal employees may be less likely to leave.

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