When many are asked to consider who the greatest President in the modern age is, many would say that person would be John F. Kennedy. His life may have been taken prematurely, but that doesn’t mean his leadership style doesn’t live on through team leaders in every industry of business today. Much can be learned from his leadership traits and these are just some of the lessons that are inspired by them.
He Was a Democratic Leader
JFK often based his decisions on the approval of the people who would be affected by those decisions the most. He sought to transform situations by taking the reins of a problem on his own so that he could help to build a new community and society together with everyone instead of dictating change. Kennedy focused on healing relationships instead of breaking them and listened with an empathetic ear so that he could truly understand what the problems were in any given situation.
He Acted Decisively
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, things were so bad in the United States that many people said goodbye to each other on Friday after work because they believed that they would be dead by the end of the weekend. JFK acted courageously and decisively when the time was needed for it. He was instrumental in calming down this dangerous situation and others that came his way so that a crisis could be averted. It may have been his greatest leadership trait.
He Wasn’t Afraid of Change
One of the leadership traits that JFK is most known for, however, is his preference for innovation. Although some of his ideas and philosophies were never implemented in his lifetime, they were monumental achievements for the United States. Chief amongst them was the ability of American astronauts to travel safely to the moon and back not once, but several times. His push to achieve great things will always be something for which he is fondly remembered.
He Had the Attitude of a Servant
Instead of trying to make people conform to what he wanted done, JFK had a commitment to grow by helping others first and foremost. His emphasis on stewardship helped him to build a community, yet he was still willing to take risks. He believed that it was possible for someone to fail miserably, but still be able to achieve great things. Kennedy took advantage of the resources that were available to him in their most efficient way so that he could make sure the people he cared for came out ahead in the end.
He Could Turn a Negative into a Positive
Kennedy believed that every crisis situation was an opportunity for greater success. Everyone has certain weaknesses, but these negatives can be turned into positives when they are appropriately addressed. If there is a roadblock in your path, then there is a good chance that you’re the one who has placed the roadblock there in the first place! Allow yourself to stay in control, use positive reactions to fuel your energy, and any negative situation can have something good taken from it.