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What are the 5 Qualities of a Good Leader?

By Darren Finkelstein
By Darren Finkelstein

The Accountability Guy®

Leader

It’s not easy to be a good leader. While a leader’s actions may be examined when things go wrong, it is their leadership characteristics that show through even in the worst of circumstances.

Employees look up to, respect, and work very hard for these similar traits. This is why it is critical for every leader to work hard in order to have strong leadership abilities.

The most effective leaders have specific characteristics that make them extremely successful. Here are five characteristics of today’s genuinely excellent leaders.

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Proper Vision

To progress through change and barriers, vision provides concentration, motivation, and direction. What exactly is your goal? What are your objectives as an individual, a group, or an organisation? Leaders that have a clear vision and can convey it to their team are effective. 

Leaders should be able to link the job they conduct on the ground to the wider picture and explain why they do what they do. Leaders who can accomplish this assist people in better understanding and aligning their job strategically, as well as more meaningfully engaging with their work.

Good Interpersonal Communication

Good leaders must be able to communicate with others in a real manner. This isn’t to say that you have to be an extrovert or a people person to be a leader; many great leaders identify as introverts! Rather, it is being able to show empathy, listen actively, and form meaningful professional connections with those around you, whether they are peers or direct reports.

(Gr)Attitude

A powerful leader is one who is thankful. Gratitude promotes pleasant relationships and connections, as well as increased involvement and resilience. Grateful leaders appreciate that success is a team effort, and they make it a point to acknowledge their team’s efforts and achievements. When 79 percent of employees who leave their jobs cited a lack of appreciation as a primary factor, this is a crucial talent. Good leaders make a point of expressing gratitude and acknowledging their employees’ efforts by:

 

  • Complimenting employees daily
  • Celebrating wins
  • Listening to employee feedback and addressing needs
  • Acknowledging employee contributions in private and in public

 

Leaders who show gratitude in both small and large ways can have a significant impact on employee engagement. It takes more than task management and performance tracking to be a good leader. Going ahead and paving the route for your team is what leadership entails.

Inspiring

Persuading others to follow is probably the most challenging task a leader has. It is only feasible if you lead by example and inspire your following. When things go rough, they look to you for guidance and to observe how you handle the problem. They will follow you if you handle it effectively. As a leader, you should think optimistically, and your actions should reflect that positive attitude.

 

Keep your cool under pressure and your motivation high. “If your actions encourage others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader,” says John Quincy Adams. You can easily overcome any current and future challenges if you are successful in encouraging your employees.

Great At Delegation

Delegating is one of a leader’s most important roles, although it can be difficult to do it effectively. The idea isn’t only to free up time for yourself; it’s also to empower your direct reports, improve teamwork, provide autonomy, improve decision-making, and help them grow. You must create trust with your team in order to delegate effectively.

 

A person who is both confident and capable to perform is best suited for a delegating leadership style. Even a minimal level of leadership input (e.g., making suggestions) might be off-putting and viewed as a lack of trust. This could lead to a decline in both their task-related performance and motivation.

Bottom Line

You must possess all of these qualities to enter the elite club of good leaders, but if you lack some of these qualities, you may find it difficult to build a name for yourself in the world of leadership. Others will look up to you if you lead by example. That’s where your dedication, passion, empathy, honesty, and integrity will shine. Good communication skills and decision-making abilities are also important factors in a leader’s success or failure. Finally, good leaders possess leadership skills such as creativity and creative thinking, as well as a futuristic vision.