Leadership Series | Part 1 of 10: What's More Important for Leaders: Attitude, Skills, or Knowledge?

Welcome to our Leadership & Executive Coaching Series, a 10-part series designed to help professionals and business owners honestly assess where they are today and where they want to go.

Each week, we'll explore one of the 10 key areas that define professional success. This week, we start with the foundation of it all.

Many times I'm asked, What's the single most important factor for professional success?

The answer might surprise you.

According to the Carnegie Triangle, 85% of professional success comes from attitude, not skills, not knowledge. Skills and knowledge only account for 15%.

Think about that for a moment.

So, how do YOU rate yourself as a leader? Give yourself an honest grade of 1 to 10 on each of the following:

• My attitude, skills, and knowledge are well suited to my current role
• I perform effectively in this role
• I have the experience and abilities necessary for success
• I handle issues that arise and adapt easily to changing conditions

How did you score?
 8–10: You're likely performing at a high level; keep it up!
 4–7: There may be opportunities to sharpen your leadership edge
 Below 4: Let's talk; there's real opportunity for growth here

This is Part 1 of our 10-part Leadership & Executive Coaching Series. Watch for Part 2 coming soon, where we'll explore self-awareness and why the best leaders know exactly where they stand.