Reliable

Reliable isn’t an elite word. “A reliable automobile” isn’t how you’d describe a sports or luxury car. Reliable isn’t usually listed in top sought-after traits for leaders.

But to me, being reliable is an essential part of my leadership. My students know that they can rely on me to do certain things in rehearsal. They know that if they ask a question, I will reliably answer it, and if I promise something, I will reliably deliver.

Vision, knowledge, skill, charisma: these are the skills we say we want in our leaders. But I think we’d be much better off trading any of those for profound reliability.