“Leadership” is likely the most cliched, over-used term of our time (Google “leadership” and you will find 212,000,0000 results). Thousands of books have been written on it. Millions are spent trying to create it. Many people think they have it but don’t. The people that wish they had it probably never will. Those that don’t know they have it didn’t pursue it.

Despite the commoditization of the term “leadership”, true leadership remains as elusive and hard to find as common sense. Leadership is difficult to define and frame because so much of it is related to manifestations and outcomes. As such, it may better said that leadership is the manifestation of something else; something deeper. I have had the great privilege of seeing leadership in action; of knowing true leaders. Other than the outcomes, they’ve all had one thing in common: character. So maybe leadership is just that—the fruit of character.

Here are some of those fruits:

• Ability to rapidly accelerate from vision, to plan, to execution—and move between each area as needed
• Ability to think clearly under pressure
• Ability to provide clear, specific orders
• Ability to have a 360 view of a situation and to discern priorities, strengths, weaknesses, etc.
• Ability to lead regardless of command structure
• Ability to understand one’s own weaknesses—and have a plan for dealing with them
• Ability to give everyone a clear, meaningful role
• Ability to see others as they are—without over/under-inflating their value to the team
• Ability to create immediate action that is still aligned with overall strategy
• Ability to take and encourage calculated risks
• Ability to adjust to various behavior styles
• Working knowledge of every aspect of a mission; not a specialist
• Ability to be agile while also sticking with a plan
• Zero tolerance for mediocrity, but is not a perfectionist
• Zero tolerance for BS, but has the ability to be diplomatic
• Zero tolerance for empty language, but still a good communicator
• Zero tolerance for apathy; can inspire people to care

What does this all mean? “Leadership” isn’t a leading indicator. It’s a lagging indicator of one’s depth of character. As such, you can’t check-list it, TelePrompt it, or advertise your way to leadership. You just have to lead.