Success Mantra

Why successful leaders should have these 5 traits?

Before deep-diving into the leadership qualities, let’s understand leadership in brief.

What is Leadership?

According to John Maxwell, ‘Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.’

Warren Bennis called it the capacity to translate vision into reality.

If you google the term ‘Leadership,’ you will find endless leadership definitions by the great minds and leaders. After working with some good leaders and being in a leadership position myself, the understanding I have developed is that leadership can influence the crowd to believe, act, and work with perseverance to meet the greater good.

Being a good leader is not a cakewalk. One must possess effective leadership qualities that help them achieve higher goals and objectives. Be it resistance and persistence of Mahatma Gandhi or the vision of Elon Musk.

Over the decades, many companies could not compete with global competition. Among the ones that did succeed, most could not sustain their position in the market.

Leaders like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Warren Buffet, with their vision, unshakable determination, and persistent hard work, led their respective companies to great heights. With their belief and strong leadership qualities, they gave a new dimension to the world of business

Team Inspiring Life provides you with 5 qualities of a good leader.

5 traits of a good leaders.

1. Visionary

A visionary leader is far-sighted and driven and inspired by what a company can become. Visionary leaders work hard for the greater good and keep themselves updated with time and change. Ensuring a vision for the future with perseverance and keeping everybody invested in the process is what a visionary leader does.

A visionary leader does not hold back to take risks and unconventional decisions.

2. Emotional Intelligence.

Emotional Intelligence is the capability to identify, manage, evaluate, and understand our own emotions and the people around us.

According to the psychologist, Daniel Goleman, EI has five components-

Self-awareness

Self-regulation

Empathy

Motivation and

Social skills

Good leaders are self-aware, act in control, take calculated decisions without getting carried away. They understand other’s perspectives without being cynical. They are self-motivated and have strong social skills, which help them build connections and healthy relationships.

These explain that good leaders have a high degree of Emotional Intelligence. This is why EI is one of the essential leadership attributes.

3.Active Listening

The roots of effective leadership lie in simple things, one of which is listening. Listening to someone demonstrates respect; it shows that you value their ideas and are willing to hear them. ~John Baldoni

Active listening is an excellent quality to have when it comes to leadership. Good leaders listen to people with great attention and sincerity. It helps them understand people and their perspectives. Active listening builds trust and relationships in the long run. Good leaders communicate with care, focus on the person and the message; they don’t interrupt and acknowledge what is being said. And that is what the world needs; leaders who listen to its people. Acquiring this skill is not easy; it needs self-awareness and humility to respect others’ thoughts.

4. Self Confidence. 

Self-confidence is found abundantly amidst true leaders; hence they know about their competencies and leadership qualities. They are sure about their competencies and leadership skills. They have a sense of self-assurance and self-esteem and, most importantly, believe that they can make a difference. As Rosalynn Carter rightly said, ‘You have to have confidence in your ability and be tough enough to follow through.’

Self-confidence is critical for leadership because it gives them wings to take risks, accomplish goals, and fly high. Organizational leaders take charge themselves and march with positivity and confidence. It allows them to make immediate decisions, solve organizational problems and conflicts. Good leaders take full responsibility and quick actions without passing on issues, ignoring, or procrastinating.

5. Strong Communicator

Excellent communication is the key to good leadership. An effective leader knows how to put across his message. They are good orators and communicate to get his/her work done. They are not harsh; they choose words and expressions which suit the situation and allow others to express their thoughts and ideas.

They understand how important it is to have good communication skills. They are very conscious and learn from others’ behaviours, which gives them a deep understanding of human complexities.