There are several key characteristics that all great leaders have in common. Whether these qualities are born into them or learned through experience, a leader’s success is entailed in their portrayal of these traits. The most powerful thing that a leader can do is recognize the features that they possess that make them great and acknowledge the need to learn the ones that they do not. While leadership can carry many meanings in context, all great leaders portray these 5 characteristics.
Confidence – No matter what level of management or authority, confidence is a pivotal component of being a successful leader. Effective managers are those who can be well received for both criticism and praise and still remain confident in their abilities to lead others. Peers will emulate the confidence of their leaders and thrive off of this energy. A strong leader gains a following by showing them that they are in this position of authority for a reason, and are confident in the actions that got them there.
Integrity – Integrity is the telltale sign of a strong leader. It is important that a leader is someone who their employees can trust and count on to remain just. It is one thing to enforce integrity but a successful leader is someone who also models and teaches the trait as well. Employees tend to mimic the behavior of their managers and mirror their attitudes and actions at work. Often times, a leader with honesty and integrity will receive the same in return from their employees. This correlates with a healthy work environment and employee satisfaction.
Communication – Leaders who fail to communicate properly with those around them will often see poor productivity and outcomes from their employees work. Tasks can easily be misconstrued when they are not conveyed properly and this can lead to inefficiency, lack of ownership, and failure to meet standards among their subordinates. Strong communication skills are at the forefront of success in almost any industry. A great leader is someone who communicatively motivates and indoctrinates their employees to reach their fullest potential, leading to ultimate success in the company.
Decisiveness – People rely on leaders to be the ones to make decisions or answer questions when they arise. Decisiveness in leadership will validate their notions that their leader is in their authoritative position for a reason. It instills a sense of trust in a leader. A great leader is one who accepts the accountability of their decisions and any consequences, negative or positive, that may result. While collaboration among peers is encouraged, employees will turn to their leader to help make decisions best for the company or issue at hand.
Positivity – Great leaders are those that emanate optimism through all tasks, regardless of the monument. Showing positivity and motivation for the task at hand will encourage others to join the same mindset. Making a point to celebrate successes, no matter how big or small will encourage employees to continue to strive for greatness in their work. Empowered employees produce better results and tend to enjoy their job as well.