Meg Crofton just became the fourth ever President of Walt Disney World and what a great president she will make. I know Meg from my years at Disney and I was SO pleased to hear of her appointment. In doing some soul searching, I asked myself, “What is it about Meg that makes one want to follow this leader?” The answer came quite easily, but it was not a simple answer. The answer is multifaceted. Meg really listens; she is not egotistical and finds it easy to let others take the lead when appropriate. She shoots straight with her team members being quick to offer positive feedback and gentle, yet firm communication when corrective action is necessary. She is intelligent and well-respected by those who work with and for her.

While Meg was actually my boss’s boss, she was approachable, visible to her team members at all levels, and an active participant in employee events and activities. She modeled the behaviors she expected of others and she certainly didn’t take herself too seriously.

In short, I would say Meg has very high emotional intelligence skills, is a savvy business person and really cares about people. Traits we all strive to develop. How do you measure up to these “presidential” characteristics?

As my fellow Central Floridians know, there have been numerous local articles and news reports about Meg. One of the leadership characteristics reported time and time again about Meg is that she is a team builder.

My experience supports that 100%. While she did not micro manage, she knew what was happening in her area of responsibility and she had a knack for getting the right person in the right job.

As part of Meg’s team, I held several Supervisory/Management positions. One of the most valuable things I learned from Meg is that getting the job done well isn’t enough. That is the management side of your job and it is only a portion of your responsibility. Leadership requires that you get the job done well with and through others. When done right, it results in team members who feel good about their roles in a given project and they look forward to the next challenge.

This is certainly important at Disney because there are always new challenges!

How about your organization? Do you face new challenges often? Are team members ready for the next adventure or do they dread future projects?

How might you adjust your leadership style to ensure high morale during changing times?

Are you meeting the needs of your team members? Want help identifying what is important to each individual, as well as your overall team? Click this link to check out the Work Expectations Profile or call Donna to learn more.