The 10 Qualities of a Good Leader

Based on our research, we’ve found that the best leaders consistently possess these 10 essential leadership qualities Integrity, Ability to delegate, Communication, Self-awareness, Gratitude, Learning agility, Influence, Empathy, Courage, Respect

The 10 Qualities of a Good Leader

Why are the qualities important?

In a word, they are important because they sustain a high quality of interaction and produce better results.

How to identify your leadership qualities.

We’ve found that the people who work for high-performing leaders tend to find themselves performing a set of specific behaviors that give them the ability to lead. The 10 qualities we’ve identified are

1. Integrity The first of the 10 qualities we identified is integrity. Integrity is directly related to the ability to delegate, communicate, and self-manage. Any leader lacking in this category is stuck in a hierarchy and lacks the ability to guide others and create an environment where they can learn and grow.

2. Ability to delegate In a team environment, we see that high-performing leaders tend to be able to delegate leadership tasks and responsibilities.

What are the benefits of being a leader with these qualities?

Leaders who cultivate these 10 qualities will have a significant advantage over those who don’t. Because of this, the smartest companies are continuously identifying and cultivating the best leaders and then hiring them for the job. 1. Integrity. Leaders with high integrity will have a special advantage. When you surround yourself with good people, and you behave with integrity yourself, everyone will notice. 2. Ability to delegate. Being a good leader requires being able to properly delegate the work that you’re doing. It also requires being able to manage your relationships with your subordinates and being a good communicator. 3. Communication. Communication can be crucial for communicating the goals, progress, vision, and culture of a company to the rest of the organization.

Be a leader with integrity

As you become more and more of a leader, your behavior will start to reflect what you believe in. In some ways, it is easier to control how you act in an informal setting with your peers. As your influence increases, you’ll have to set the standards for how you behave, both in private and in public. Without integrity, the natural effects of social media (retweeting, liking, commenting, sending a private message, etc.) can cloud your leadership and influence. In my book, Out of the Darkness, Out of the Fire, I share that when I was approached by John Seely Brown, a consultant on energy security and sustainability for the Clinton Global Initiative, I was asked to lead a youth organization.

Be a leader who can delegate responsibly

Being effective as a leader doesn’t necessarily mean having the best idea. It means taking the time to truly understand what you don’t know and being able to find someone who does. What matters is that you make sure that you delegate as effectively as you can. Never mistake your need for control for a lack of responsibility. You can always learn something from another person or learn something new yourself. Give others the freedom and trust to make their own decisions Take ownership of what you’re responsible for. When others are empowered to make decisions, it encourages them to do their jobs better. Whenever you start to delegate something, ask yourself, “Is this really something I need to be in charge of?” Ask questions. Listen to people’s ideas.

Be an effective communicator

The biggest indicator of high-performing managers is their ability to communicate with and empower their employees to do their best work. So if you’re a leader and your ability to communicate is impaired by what you can’t say, you won’t be able to get the work done or to move your team forward. Here are 4 ways to become a better communicator: Self-learn, and become a better listener (thanks to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator for helping you do this). Learn the art of storytelling to engage your team and keep your message fresh. Be a mentor, not a boss. Develop personal relationships with each of your employees. This can take some time to get right, but it is absolutely critical to a team’s growth. And remember, being a good communicator does not mean you should be the one talking.

Be self-aware and grateful for what you have

The first step to becoming a good leader is learning to be self-aware and grateful for what you have. The research suggests that it takes a strong self-identity to become a good leader, and a strong self-identity relies on a high level of gratitude. When you aren’t grateful, you can’t effectively motivate and build the self-awareness and trust that are critical to being a great leader. Be self-aware and grateful for the challenges that life brings All great leaders to accept that they don’t get it right 100% of the time, and that means accepting that they aren’t the best, or the smartest, or the strongest. They also know that they don’t have all the answers either.

Be able to learn agility

The most recent generation has not experienced an era of industrial and economic upheaval like their predecessors did. But they are witnessing disruption at home and abroad. And these changes require leaders who are agile. They are used to prioritizing customer needs, not short-term profits. They are comfortable changing the direction of the company. They can adapt to rapidly shifting market conditions, respond to new threats, and recognize new opportunities. They are adept at creating diversity in the workplace. As a leader, adaptability is a combination of ability, willingness, and aptitude. When things change, you have to adapt to the situation. If you cannot, your company will fail.

Be an empathetic leader.

Empathy is a dimension of empathy. In the context of leadership, it is the ability to be in touch with the emotional and physical feelings of others. It’s being aware of how your words and actions affect your followers and the environment you work in. It is identifying how to better assist and create connections with your followers. Related: Why You Can't 'Fix' Other People, but You Can Lead Them Can you imagine a two-hour workday without a little understanding of the particular challenges, personal and professional, your followers face on a daily basis? If you had to walk around with blinders on for two hours, would you notice the patterns of conflict, frustration, and inefficiency? Empathy is a skill. You can be taught empathy, but most people lack it.

Respect others

Your actions will reflect your leadership quality. The best leaders listen to their followers. They are people-oriented and take into account the opinions of those who follow them. The leader who acts consistently with respect reflects his/her ability to put the interest of the followers as his/her first priority. The 10 Qualities of a Good Leader