McCombs TODAY

(Originally published in Texas, the McCombs School of Business alumni magazine)

In an effort to start a regular conversation with readers, Texas posed a question in our monthly e-newsletter McCombs Monthly. We received lots of thoughtful answers, many of which are printed here. Add your answers here, and keep an eye out for future questions!

“Accepting responsibility and delegating praise.” — Michael Love, BBA ’69

“Effective leadership begins with trust and respect. The team does not necessarily have to ‘like’ the leader. But if the team has respect for the leader’s judgment and trusts that the leader is 100 percent committed to the long-term best interest of the organization as a whole, they will either follow or leave.”
—Mickey G.McDaniel, BBA ’ 75

“Great leaders help people reach their goals, are not afraid to hire people that might be better than them and take pride in the accomplishments of those they help along the way. Great leaders set an example for ethics, hard work and loyalty, while not ignoring the needs of their own families. All of the above were easy for me to answer. I just described my own father, Douglas Pierce, president and CEO of three major insurance companies for 28 years.”
— Brad Pierce, BBA ‘82

“A great leader is someone with character, integrity and the will to put the interest of duty before self.”
— Wilbur L.Coats, BBA ’57

When I think of great leaders, I think of presidents, military leaders, industry leaders, religious leaders and leaders of social change. But I also think about college students, teachers, community leaders, teammates, workmates and caregivers. Great leaders are everywhere.
— David Goodnight, MBA ’76

“A great leader is compassionate and equipped with the spiritual and natural abilities to overcome all obstacles. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary work.We can all be great leaders in life.We must work diligently with honesty, ethics and integrity and think of others’ needs.”
— Margarita Pizano-Flores, BBA ’80

“A great leader uses negative motivation only if positive motivation isn’t working. A great leader creates a pleasant atmosphere.”
— James Patterson Foster, BBA ’63

“A great leader possesses the ability to think beyond her own needs and goals and act for the good of the whole. She sees the big picture and values the input of others regardless of whether or not it is in agreement with her own opinions. Such a leader does not see herself as better than or smarter than everyone else and is capable of admitting to and working past mistakes.”
— Tammy “Taz” Diaz-Clarady, BBA ’92

“Character, intelligence, vision and decisiveness.” — Bill Merrill, MBA ’93

“The best leaders have always been great communicators. You want to work with them and act on their “orders,” which the audience hears as voluntary suggestions to help make the world a better place.”
–James Patrick Curtiss, BBA ‘90

“I write a blog on leadership. I have lots of ideas about what makes a great leader and it’s not just “one” thing. It’s a nexus of skills, inner qualities, and experience.”
– Alex B. Ramsey, MBA ‘93

“The quality of the people who follow.” — Matthew J. Moesker, BBA ’98