November 3, 2022

What Makes A Great Leader

Clarity, Courage, and Creative Momentum

We live in a world obsessed with leadership mantras. Charisma. Grit. “Never settling.” But here’s the truth: Great leadership isn’t a list of personality traits. It’s a commitment to clarity, candor, and creative action—ruthlessly lived.

At Un_Standard, we believe leaders don’t just manage—they ignite movements. No movement ever started because someone played it safe.

Trait 1: Relentless Clarity

Great leaders are clarity in human form. They define a vision that’s simple, actionable, and actually memorable—so every hire, partner, and customer “gets it” by the first meeting.

How to embody it:

  • Share your “why” in every all-hands.
  • Check and realign team storylines monthly—message drift happens faster than you think.
  • Gut-punch ambiguity: anytime you see “strategy by committee” or fluffy KPIs, intervene.

Trait 2: Candor Without Cruelty

Honesty isn’t a weapon—it’s a movement habit. Clarity-led leaders surface hard truths early, accept (and demand) feedback, and keep ego out of the equation.

Make feedback culture the backbone: Encourage teammates to challenge assumptions, raise red flags on drift, and propose daring ideas. Celebrate when someone says, “This is off-message”—teach everyone that critique is creation.

Join The Movement

Clarity is the new growth engine—ditch the templates and join the movement of bold brands rewriting the rules. Whether you’re launching, scaling, or leading, Un_Standard delivers anti-ordinary strategy, story, and systems built for every stage of growth. Ignite momentum with our solutions—all designed to smash bottlenecks, fuel creativity, and turn your business into a story worth following.
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Trait 3: Creative Restlessness

Standing still is the slowest way to die. Anti-ordinary leaders constantly ask, “What could we change today that the competition won’t dare touch for another year?”

Movement in action:

  • Hold quarterly “Break the Routine” retros.
  • Empower every function to propose one wild experiment per quarter, then test, learn, and share results openly.

Trait 4: Decisive Action (Even Before You’re Ready)

Every startup graveyard has at least one “almost” leader—someone who waited for certainty, consensus, or funding before moving. The bold decide, move, and iterate in public—even (especially) when the map isn’t complete.

When the path is unclear? Bet on momentum.

Trait 5: Prioritizing Alignment Over Authority

Un_Standard leaders know alignment trumps hierarchy. They rally sales, marketing, ops, product, and leadership around a shared, purpose-driven story.

Alignment rituals > top-down “do as I say.” Hold narrative standups and regular, cross-functional sprints. Let every department sign-off on the big moves—then move as one.

Trait 6: Anti-Ego—Pro Team Wins

No one likes a genius who hoards progress or primps for credit. Movement leaders make recognition system-wide:

  • Elevate the “unsung clarity hero”
  • Lead public failure and lesson sessions
  • Pick the next leader from those who model action, not applause

Brag less. Credit wide.

The Real-World Results of Bold, Clarity-Driven Leadership

  • Teams ship faster, stick longer, and collaborate better
  • Momentum compounds—every small win is celebrated, every bottleneck attacked
  • Customers and partners buy into a mission, not just a product

An Un_Standard-led retail organization saw employee NPS double and churn drop after switching to monthly movement reviews—each led by a clarity-first executive.

How to Start Leading the Un_Standard Way

  1. Audit yourself: Invite feedback from peers on clarity, action, and candor. Be ready to own your blind spots.
  2. Make a new habit: Institute monthly narrative resets or “failure showcases.” Let the team see you learn and adapt in real-time.
  3. Teach the next move: Develop future leaders beneath you. Pass clarity, resilience, and boldness down the line—movements last when they’re shared.

Final Movement Power-Up

Being a “great leader” is not about charisma, pedigree, or executive presence. It’s about action powered by clarity and community.

The world rewards the brave—those who align, evolve, and invite their team to build something entirely new.

Ready to lead the movement, not the meeting?

Request a Leadership Alignment Call With Un_Standard →

Click to schedule a complimentary 15-minute call

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Agent Provocateur & Chief Creative Officer at Un_Standard. David helps ambitious brands unearth clarity, break the rules that hold them back, and co-create movement-level growth. When not challenging the status quo, he’s in the kitchen inventing new flavors or chasing after his three cats: Hallie Tosis, Lester Een, and Jim G. Vitis. #BeUnStandard

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