The Internet tells me that it takes about 21 days (or 21 actions) to create a habit. Can we become better leaders (and better members of society) by keeping ourselves accountable by checkboxing leadership traits? Let’s find out. Below is a table with each of the 14 leadership traits the Navy wants its leaders to embrace. Print it out and check a box when you recognize your own action as meeting the description of one of the traits.
For easy printing, here is a single page copy as a PDF: Leadership_Traits-checklist.pdf
| Judgment | The ability to weigh facts and possible solutions on which to base sound decisions. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Justice | Giving reward and punishment according to merits of the case in question; the ability to administer a system of rewards and punishment impartially and consistently. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Decisiveness | Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Initiative | Taking action in the absence of orders. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Dependability | The certainty of proper performance of duty. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Tact | The ability to deal with others without creating offense. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Integrity | Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles; includes the qualities of truthfulness and honesty. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Endurance | The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress and hardship. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Bearing | Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance and personal conduct at all times. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Unselfishness | Avoidance of providing for one's own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Courage | The mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a man to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Knowledge | Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one's information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Sailors. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Loyalty | The quality of faithfulness to country, the Navy, the unit, to one's seniors, subordinates and peers. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |
| Enthusiasm | The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty. | ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ ⧠ |