Throughout history, many different types of leadership abilities have been identified. Some were displayed by good leaders, while others were embraced by bad leaders.
In either scenario, the qualities of the people in command were linked to their capacity to achieve their objectives. Those same characteristics also dictated how much (or how little) their followers looked up to them.
Integrity, accountability, empathy, humility, resilience, vision, influence, and positivity are the most vital attributes of a good leader.
Fortunately, you may utilize history to your advantage and learn from others’ mistakes to acquire amazing leadership qualities.
Leadership skills, according to behavioral theories, are not ingrained and can be taught; people can develop effective leadership traits through teaching and acquiring these skills over time.
“Management is about persuading people to do things they do not want to do, while leadership is about inspiring people to do things they never thought they could.” — Steve Jobs
What is Leadership?
According to John Maxwell, ‘Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.’
It’s what Warren Bennis refers to as the ability to turn ideas into reality.
If you Google the phrase “leadership,” you’ll get a plethora of definitions from the world’s greatest thinkers and leaders. After working with several outstanding leaders and holding a leadership role myself, I’ve come to realize that leadership has the power to persuade people to believe, act, and work hard for the greater good.
It is not easy to be a good leader. Effective leadership characteristics are necessary for achieving greater goals and objectives. Whether it is Mahatma Gandhi’s resistance and perseverance or Elon Musk’s vision.
There are certain characteristics of successful leaders that stand out as contributing to their success. The good news is that each of these leadership skills, traits, and attributes can be learned.
What Makes A Good Leader Great?
Great leaders strike a balance between insight, performance, and personality. They have the capacity to organize strategically and stimulate cooperation within their team, as well as vision, courage, honesty, humility, and focus.
Find out more about effective leadership. Think Like a Leader is a thorough Udemy course I made that covers everything.
11 Leadership Qualities Of Great Leaders
Here are the top eleven characteristics of successful leaders and executives:
1. Vision
“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” – Jack Welch
Great leaders have a vision for the future… They have the ability to look into the future.
They have a clear, exciting vision of where they want to go and what they want to achieve, and they excel at strategic planning.
This distinguishes them from managers. Having a clear vision transforms a person into a unique entity. A “transactional manager” becomes a “transformational leader” when they have this quality of vision.
Great leaders delve into their people’s emotions while a manager gets the job done.
2. Courage
“Courage is rightly considered the foremost of the virtues, for upon it, all others depend.” – Winston Churchill
Courage is one of the most vital attributes of a good leader. Having the quality of courage indicates you’re willing to take chances in order to attain your goals, even if you don’t know if you’ll succeed. Because there is no such thing as certainty in life or business, every promise you make and every action you do comes with a risk.
Courage is the most visible exterior quality among the seven leadership qualities.
3. Integrity
“With integrity, you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide. With integrity, you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt.” – Zig Ziglar
The first value that all the gathering executives agree on for their company is integrity in every strategic planning session that I have held for large and small corporations. They all agree that perfect honesty is critical in everything they do, both internally and externally.
Truthfulness is at the heart of honesty.
Integrity necessitates always telling the truth, to everyone, in every circumstance. Truthfulness is the foundation trait of trust, which is required for any business to succeed.
4. Humility
Humility yields positive results. Former Honeywell CEO Larry Bossidy, the author of the book Execution, explains why leadership qualities like humility make you a more effective leader:
“The more you can contain your ego, the more realistic you are about your problems. You learn how to listen, and admit that you don’t know all the answers. You exhibit the attitude that you can learn from anyone at any time. Your pride doesn’t get in the way of gathering the information you need to achieve the best results. It doesn’t keep you from sharing the credit that needs to be shared. “Humility allows you to acknowledge your mistakes.” – Larry Bossidy
Great leaders are strong and determined, but they are also modest. Humility does not imply that you are weak or insecure. It means you have the confidence and self-awareness to evaluate others’ worth without feeling intimidated.
Because it necessitates ego containment, this is one of the more uncommon abilities – or features – of successful leaders.
It suggests you’re willing to admit you might be mistaken and that you’re aware you don’t know everything. It also implies that you give credit where credit is due, which many individuals find difficult.
5. Strategic Planning
“Strategy is not the consequence of planning, but the opposite: it’s the starting point.” – Henry Mintzberg
Strategic planning is a strength of great leaders. It’s one of the most crucial leadership qualities. They have the ability to see into the future and predict with some accuracy where the industry and markets will go.
Leaders have the ability to foresee trends well ahead of their opponents. They are constantly asking, “Where is the market headed based on what is happening today?” In three months, six months, a year, and two years, where do you think it will be?” This is accomplished by careful strategic planning.
Only the leaders and organizations who can effectively predict future markets will be able to survive in the face of rising competition. Only those with foresight are allowed to lead.
6. Focus
“Successful people maintain a positive focus on life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps, they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them. – Jack Canfield
Leaders are continually focused on the company’s and situation’s demands. Leaders concentrate on outcomes, on what has to be accomplished by themselves, others, and the firm. Great leaders concentrate on their own and others’ strengths.
They concentrate on the company’s strengths, on the things that it excels at in pleasing demanding clients in a competitive market.
Your ability to call the shots as a leader and ensure that everyone is engaged and concentrating on the most productive use of their time is critical to the company’s success.
7. Cooperation
“If your imagination leads you to understand how quickly people grant your requests when those requests appeal to their self-interest, you can have practically anything you go after.” – Napoleon Hill
Your ability to get everyone on board and pull in the same direction is critical to your success. Leadership is all about the capacity to persuade others to work for you because they want to.
Here’s where the 80/20 rule comes into play:
80 Only 20% of your results come from just 20% of your team.
The seamless operation of the organization depends on your ability to pick these people and then work successfully with them on a daily basis.
Make a daily commitment to get along well with each essential individual to gain the cooperation of others. When it comes to a task, you always have two options: do it yourself or hire someone to do it for you. Which one will it be?
8. Confidence
You must roll up your sleeves and take action to be an effective leader. This includes having the confidence to lead, believing that your goals and vision are not just feasible for the team, but also the best option.
One of the leadership skills you must cultivate is confidence in all situations. Great leaders can remain confident in every scenario, even when they are afraid or uncomfortable.
People will instantly notice if you lack self-confidence in a leadership position. When it comes to self-confidence, they say, “Make it ’til you make it.” This is completely true. The more you believe in yourself, the more equipped you will be to deal with any difficult scenario.
9. Care for Others Good
The best leaders have a high consideration factor. They care about their people. ~Brian Tracy.
Good leaders recognize the need to strike a work-life balance. They understand that the health and well-being of the organization’s employees are critical to its success. They motivate their employees and ensure that the clients, beneficiaries, and consumers have faith in them.
They recognize the value of acknowledging and rewarding people, as well as fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding within the company. They strive to create an environment in which everyone can thrive.
10. Self-motivated
The great leaders of business, industry, and finance, and the great artists, poets, musicians, and writers all became great because they developed the power of self-motivation. ~Napoleon Hill
The capacity to motivate others is one of the most important leadership characteristics. When their employees’ morale is low, good leaders will motivate them and raise their morale. Even in dangerous conditions, they sail their boat with ease. They are self-motivated and set an example for others to follow.
11. Self-Discipline
Good leaders are self-disciplined and have good time management skills. Leadership is about instilling discipline in others. Good leaders are self-disciplined and know how to manage their time effectively. They promote a disciplined culture among their employees.
This is a trait that allows people to adjust to new situations with tenacity. When you practice self-discipline and lead by example, you inspire others to do the same.
Great leaders always have self-discipline -without exception. ~John C. Maxwell
Being more disciplined can help achieve more and keep the work environment at peace in a company when everything is fast-paced and employees are overworked.
Effective Leaders Are Also Strong Communicators
The ability to talk effectively and persuasively is another crucial skill that the finest leaders seek to achieve.
Many people, in fact, practice public speaking in their own enterprises until they are ready to move on to paid speaking engagements. Although speaking in front of large groups of people is a top concern for most of us, overcoming this fear is what transforms a good leader into a great one.
If you’re ready to overcome your fear of public speaking and start leading more effectively, all you have to do now is take the first step.
Great Leaders Lead By Example
The majority of the time, leaders consider important leadership traits and how to put them into practice on a daily basis.
They also understand that in order to fully acquire the trust of their followers, they must lead by example. Another important attribute of outstanding and great leaders is their ability to stick to this principle.
Remember:
Being a leader, accepting responsibility for results, and daring to move forward are the most significant contributions you can make to your firm.
3 Leadership Traits To Accelerate Your Career
The ability to talk effectively and persuasively is another crucial skill that the finest leaders seek to achieve.
If you’re stuck in a rut at work and want to advance your career, taking on a leadership role could be the answer. If you want to stand out in your organization, consider embracing the following leadership qualities.
1. Good Leaders Are Future Oriented
Great leaders are known for their ability to think about the future the majority of the time.
They are more concerned with where they are going than with where they have been. Instead of dwelling on the troubles of the past, they maintain an optimistic attitude and consider the chances of tomorrow.
Only about ten percent of people possess this quality of foresight. All the movers and shakers, entrepreneurs, business builders, top salespeople, artists, musicians, and innovators of all types make up this small proportion.
To think like a leader, you must apply the concept of “idealization” to every aspect of your life. To get the most out of idealization, start by assuming that you don’t have any.
Consider for a moment that you have unlimited time and resources. You are well-educated and knowledgeable.
You’ve got all the skills and expertise. You have all of your contacts and buddies. You’re a “no-limit” person who can do anything you set your mind to.
What additional knowledge, talents, and leadership traits would you have acquired to a high level if you were the best professional business person you could possibly be?
Once you’ve mastered the art of idealization, you can apply it to your family, your finances, and your physical well-being.
What kind of lifestyle would you have if your family life was perfect in every way?
How much money would you have in the bank and how much would you make from your investments each month and year if your financial condition were ideal?
How would you be different today if your physical health and fitness levels were ideal?
You begin to engage in what is known as “long-term thinking” as you begin to develop leadership traits.
2. Great Leaders Keep A Positive Attitude
Top performers keep a good attitude and think long-term. Average thinking is primarily concerned with the now and instant fulfillment.
Great leaders, on the other hand, consider where they want to be in five and ten years and what they need to accomplish every hour of every day to make their visions a reality.
They get up every morning and see every effort they make as part of a great plan to accomplish something fantastic with their lives, and they keep a good attitude as they move forward. If they’re working on a new book, they realize that each page they write gets them closer to their goal.
Even when development is sluggish, they focus on the benefits that will result rather than the drawbacks. Because they are motivated, great leaders inspire others, including their friends, customers, associates, and even their children. They are ecstatic at the prospect of forging a bright future for themselves.
Leaders are optimistic.
They perceive possibilities and opportunities in everything that occurs, whether it is favorable or negative.
They look for the positive in everything and everyone. They look for the valuable lessons in each challenge or setback. They never have “failures,” instead of dismissing them as “learning experiences.”
Great leaders, above all, have a feeling of meaning and purpose in every aspect of their lives.
Every day, they concentrate on clear, documented goals and plans. Leaders know exactly where they want to go and what they need to do to get there.
Their actions are deliberate and goal-oriented. As a result, they achieve five to 10 times more than the average individual who functions frenetically.
3. The Best Leaders Take Responsibility
Acceptance of personal responsibility is one of the most crucial leadership skills. Leaders never complain or explain themselves. They make progress rather than making excuses.
They tell themselves, “I am responsible!” whenever they suffer a setback or trouble. I am accountable! I’m the one in charge!”
Great leaders perceive themselves as victorious over their surroundings, not as victims of them. When something goes wrong, they don’t condemn or blame others. Rather, they concentrate on the solution, on what can be accomplished.
Leaders have a strong desire to take action. They are always on the move. They experiment with one thing, then another, and then yet another. They are never willing to give up. Finally, leaders are trustworthy. They always tell it how it is. They live in the truth with themselves and with others.
Accepting the role of a leader entails a significant deal of responsibility.
It’s both terrifying and thrilling. When you make the decision to be a leader in your life, you let go of the fears and dependencies that hold most people back and pursue life with a positive outlook.
You create your own future with your own hands. You have totally committed to becoming everything that you are capable of being.