Why Moxie Matters

Have you got moxie?

A new book by John Baldoni asks this question, and it's worth considering if you're a leader. Do you have the courage, the get-up-and-go to take action when it's necessary?

In the book, "Moxie: The Secret to Bold and Gutsy Leadership," Baldoni profiles a number of leaders from business, politics, sports and the arts. He provides insight into how they exemplify moxie, and how others can follow in their footsteps.

He writes that leaders can use the word "moxie" to remind themselves of the necessary ingredients to make themselves and their teams better.

• Mindfulness: A mindful leader knows the situation as well as his capabilities and those of the people around him.
• Opportunity: An opportunistic leader looks for ways to make things better.
• X factor. A leader with the X factor radiates character and uses ambition to focus on the right goals.
• Innovation. An innovative leader knows that life is not lived in a linear fashion. That means thinking and doing things differently.
• Engagement. An engaged leader knows that he can achieve little by himself. These leaders engage the talents, enthusiasm and spirit of others in order to advance organizational goals.

"Moxie is the essence of what makes a leader tough on the inside and easygoing on the outside," Baldoni says.