The ABCs of a Great SEO Leader

[SEO]

Below, from A to Z, you’ll find what I believe are the traits, qualities and intangibles found in the people that lead not just SEO, but entire companies. *A*nalytical: Know what to look for, and be able to create an action plan from your findings. *B*usiness savvy: Give your team some job security. Make money and plan to make more. *C*alm under fire: Your rankings just went off the radar. No reason. Can you keep your team calm? *D*ecisive: If you don’t believe in your decisions, no one will. *E*thical: If you represent a brand, there’s no room for questionable tactics. Win within the rules. *F*ast: How long does it take your plan to go from your mind to moving the needle? *G*ap Bridger: PR, SEM, Tech and more are lurking. Can you bring them all together? *H*istorian: Know what’s happened in the past or you’re doomed to repeat mistakes. *I*nnovator: Can you create new ways to succeed? *J*umps in: A leader gets their hands dirty. Lead by example. *K*iller smarts: Intelligence, and more importantly common sense, attracts followers. *L*oves what they do: A miserable leader can only be effective short term. *M*ass thinking: It’s all about scale. Do your plans build in chunks to leverage infrastructure? *N*ever give up: If you quit, your team will too. *O*ut of the box: It’s ok to win by being unconventional. It’s actually a lot more fun. *P*atience: Giving up on a plan too quickly can lead to a lost opportunity forever. *Q*uestion everything: If you understand the ‘why’, it’s that much easier to get the ‘how’. *R*espectful: Treat everyone with respect and you can expect them to go to battle for you. *S*tand up guy/girl: You’re the leader. You take the credit, you take the blame. *T*ester: Don’t be afraid to fail. Try new things. It may take many small failures to see great success. *U*nderstanding: Step into someone else’s shoes. Get their perspective, whether or not you agree. *V*isionary: What’s coming down the line? Are you prepared with a plan for it? *W*inner: When it comes time to win for your idea, can you step up? *X*-factor: A great leader has a charm or charisma that makes people want to follow their lead. *Y*es man: No way! Can you tell your boss that their idea is going kill organic traffic? *Z*ero mistakes: Everyone makes mistakes. Leaders have plans in place to find and correct them. As always, this is just one man’s opinion. And, frankly, thinking of a quality that begins with every letter of the alphabet can be quite time consuming. Source:searchenginejournal.com