Fortune Mag's top ten list of "leadership companies" presents a teaching moment for brands. It's no coincidence that such companies are, themselves, brands of strength.
As simplistic as it may sound, the key characteristic of the good leader is the ability to attract and sustain a loyal following. Key attribute of a strong brand? Keeping the promise of the experience that creates this same kind of loyalty over time. Think about the brands for which you've developed loyalty. What keeps you coming back are the things that, if they were personal characteristics, would inform a strong leader. Trustworthiness, product dependability and integrity of quality come to mind, and respect for users/customers. So "leaders", whether people or products, have much in common.
