Five Attributes of Great Leaders

Sure…you can read many articles on the subject of leadership about what great leaders do. But, according to many who study action learning and leadership development, what great leaders feel is even more important.

Whatare the attributes of a great leader’s “emotional” make-up?

1.     Courage. Leaders need the courage to step out and take risks to realize their dream.

2.     Honesty. Recognize your strengths and your weaknesses and be humble enough to work on improving yourself.

3.     Vulnerability. Be yourself and show that you have emotions and heart. Great leaders have great empathy and do not fear showing their human side.

4.     Understanding. Know that as you rise through the ranks and delegate responsibilities to others, there will be mistakes. Instead of blaming, focus on improvement. Your trust in your employees will be paid back many times over in their loyalty and increased effort.

5.     Integrity. You know the difference between right and wrong. Never choose the lower path to success. You must set the example for others. This is the way to build an environment of trust and accountability.

3 Less Obvious Qualities of Great Leaders

There are lists upon lists of qualities needed in great leaders. Here are a few thataction learning and leadership development experts have identified that areperhaps less obvious but still very effective in inspiring employees to give ittheir best performance.

1.     Optimism
If you don’t believe in the success of your venture, who will? Great leaders embark upon their enterprise with a positive attitude and continue to motivate followers with their confidence in the outcome.

2.     A sense of humor
Whoever said work could not be fun? A light-hearted work atmosphere can raise morale or boost it when times get tough. Mistakes will be made. It is better to learn from them and laugh a bit that to berate the person responsible and so destroy everyone’s motivation. Employees appreciate a friendly, forgiving culture.

3.     Intuition
Learn to trust your own instincts. You have the experience and you have gained the wisdom to make decisions. Weigh the alternatives and then go for it. Trust yourself and your employees will trust you too.

Three C’s on the Road to Great Leadership

Action learning and leadership development experts have identified three corecompetencies of great leaders: Communication, Confidence and Commitment.

1. Communication.  Effective leaders know how to communicate exceptionally well. They are able to inspire followers with the clear communication of their vision for the team and the company as a whole. And they know how to listen and invite all to share their ideas and concerns. Keeping the door open to employees instills trust and loyalty.
2. Confidence.  Leaders face many challenges along the road to success but great leaders are able to maintain an attitude of confidence. Employees will emulate their leader. If you exhibit uncertainty or seem overwhelmed by a situation, they will follow. Instead, be calm, confident and in control.
3. Commitment.  Stay the course. Show that you are committed to the company goals and will do your best to achieve them. Then, do what you say you will do. This is how to earn your employees’ respect.

Two Key Ways Leaders Can Keep on Track

A recent study showed that up to two-thirds of leaders fail to navigate today’s complex leadership challenges…and you can easily imagine what happens to the organizations they were leading. What are these leaders missing and how can you avoid a similar fate?

Best practices of action learning and leadership development gurus have determined that there are two key ways leaders can keep on track:

1. Continue to develop…not only your own skills but the skills of your work force. Open yourself up to feedback. Understand that you still have much to learn. Even the most accomplished athletes continue to train and polish their game. With you, then, as a model, invest in developing your employees. This is the best way to show that you value them and that you believe in their future…and they will pay you back with increased engagement in their jobs.
2. Maintain the highest standards of integrity. Choosing an unethical path to riches or advancement will ruin you in the end. Set an example for your organization. You will earn your employees’ trust and build business relationships that are positive and long-term.