They say good leaders aren’t born, they’re made. But what leadership traits are in the secret sauce used to make successful leaders? Let’s explore them below.
Many successful organizations and movements have been propelled forward by great leaders throughout history. So what did they do differently to become these visionary leaders we've come to know and respect? I am sure it takes work to become a great leader. You must have effective leadership traits that help you achieve higher objectives and goals aligned with your vision, which must be clear as day, by the way.
Leaders must know when to grab opportunities and rally their team to work hard towards the company's goals. In fact, effective leaders don't even have to have the "manager" or "boss" title; they transcend beyond that. This is why you'll find people not even in management displaying exceptional leadership traits, leading us to question whether they were just gifted with these skills. You can actually learn most leadership skills and build them with practice and time to become an effective leader who can rally people toward success.
What are those 10 leadership traits you need to become someone others genuinely want to work for and admire?
1. Self-management
How do you expect to lead others if you cannot manage yourself? This is why self-management comes at the top of the list of necessary leadership traits. It means prioritizing one's personal goals and taking responsibility for accomplishing the objectives required to achieve them. Effective leaders must be able to regulate their emotions, attention, and time while staying aware of potential sources of bias, weaknesses, and strengths.
Outstanding leaders are great at balancing their professional and personal lives and handling stress so that nothing bleeds over to either side. This also means knowing when to ask for help and exercising compassion to respond to events and people appropriately. In the spirit of self-management, maintaining self-control and discipline in everything you do is important for developing a sense of structure.
2. Effective communication
Great leaders know when to listen and talk because they are effective communicators. They can briefly and clearly explain everything to their team, from specific tasks to organizational goals. People must know and understand your expectations to achieve the desired results optimally.
You have to be able to communicate on all levels, whether it's via social media, email, on the phone, to the entire staff, department, or one-on-one. Good communication is a valuable leadership trait and a non-negotiable one at that, so if you want to be in leadership in the future, work on involving people at different levels and being approachable. No one likes an ice queen.
3. Taking responsibility and accountability
Successful leaders know how to appropriately use their authority and power without overpowering or overwhelming others. They take responsibility for their mistakes, hold themselves accountable, and expect others to do the same. It is about realizing that you can't be right all the time and that sometimes mistakes are inevitable.
Accountable and responsible leaders can work within established procedures and be efficient in their decisions and productive. They also appreciate the importance of encouraging and supporting individuality while understanding organizational structures. This is crucial for balancing different perspectives while taking appropriate action.
4. Setting clear goals and working to achieve them
You need to set clear goals and be intentional and determined to achieve them, couple this with lots of self-confidence, and you've got a recipe for success. People are naturally drawn to individuals who radiate enthusiasm and excitement about what they're doing. Write down your goals, don't just have them in your mind. This will help you achieve both personal and organizational success.
It will take time to achieve these goals, so you'll need to be resilient and keep at it if that's something you really want. If you want to be a successful leader, you must be willing to keep going even when your team wants to give up.
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5. Having a vision
If you want to be an exceptional leader, you need to be able to look into your company's future and make concrete, clear goals that will benefit the organization. Be enthusiastic, optimistic, and confident to inspire those around you o believe in your vision and work towards it.
To be a visionary, you need to manage change while striking a balance between growth and stability. This means incorporating new approaches into your strategy without getting distracted from your main goals. Change is always going on around us, and what worked in the past may not necessarily work now. You must exercise agility and adaptability when implementing new strategies and allow your business model to adapt over time.
6. Managing challenging situations
Being a problem solver who can quickly make decisions under quickly changing circumstances is another essential leadership trait. You can't just lead when everything is going smoothly; you also need to know how to lead when the going gets tough. After all, your team will be looking to you for answers, so you need to be able to assess the complexity of the situation even before you don't have all the information and decide on the right course of action.
7. Fostering innovation and creativity
You can't be a good leader if you're always afraid to think outside the box. That's why you have to be brave enough to encourage creativity and risk experimentation. This fosters an environment of innovation in the organization to steer you to new heights and navigate the ever-changing rapids of the business landscape. As long as you're persistently pursuing your goals with flexibility and open-mindedness, you'll be well on your way toward game-changing leadership. Encourage everyone around you to spend some of their time brainstorming new ideas.
8. Promoting teamwork and team building
Successful leadership is also about the people around you, which is why team building is one of the most crucial leadership traits. It helps you build a unique and diverse group of people with different skills, motivations, and personalities. Strong teamwork in any organization can also help to develop some traits on this list, such as effective communication and innovation to achieve the company's goals. If you recruit the right team and develop them accordingly, they will be unstoppable in driving your organization's success.
9. Strategic thinking and learning agility
To be a leader in today's world, you need to have an open-minded and forward-thinking approach. This involves being ready to modify your strategies and take advantage of emerging opportunities while knowing how to handle unexpected challenges. Thinking strategically is a continuous process that involves analyzing your business environment. You can cultivate this leadership trait by:
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Maintaining a positive outlook
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Focusing on the future and your company's operational conditions
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Trying new ideas and approaches with a flexible mindset
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Being genuinely curious about your wider business environment and how it relates to your company
You should also be able to adapt to suddenly changing circumstances and know when to seize opportunities even in this changing landscape. Being constantly curious will fuel your desire to grow and learn constantly. Learning agility depends on the desire to push forward, exercise emotional and social intelligence, accept uncertainty, and develop critical thinking skills.
10. The ability to create lasting relationships
As a successful leader, you need to do more than inspire people to follow you. You should also know how to motivate your team to work wholeheartedly toward your company goals. Making your employees feel appreciated and valued will make them feel like what they do makes a difference. Thus, they will be motivated to push toward the company's success. So please don't neglect your team; they are the ones helping you work on your vision.
Effective networking also falls under this umbrella to advance one's career and benefit the organization. Networking allows you to create varied connections with people, which is why great leaders know how to establish impactful relationships with everyone, from competitors and partners to clients and customers.
With all these traits, you can be a leader that everyone admires and wants to follow as you make your mark in history.
