The Secret to Exceptional Leadership: Six Traits You Must Master
Despite how promotions work at many companies, most people are not natural-born leaders. Unfortunately, this means plenty of supervisors — from CEOs to low-level team leaders — are unfit to lead.
Effective leadership is an amalgamation of traits that enable individuals to inspire, guide, and achieve results with their teams. Being a leader is a distinct skill. If this skill doesn’t come naturally to you, that’s okay! You can still be an exceptional leader with a bit of thoughtfulness and effort.
Honing these traits is a brilliant place to start. We could write a list of 50 traits the best leaders possess, but we want to highlight the six we think are undisputed.
1. Integrity
Integrity is the cornerstone of excellent leadership. Leaders with integrity build trust within their teams by demonstrating an unwavering moral compass and setting the tone for the company’s culture.
A leader who regularly displays integrity will be respected and trusted by their team. This filters down to their decisions being respected, as well. People with integrity don’t cut corners or take advantage of others.
2. Accountability
Accountability and self-awareness involve understanding one’s strengths, weaknesses, and the impact of one’s actions on others. Leaders who embrace accountability take responsibility for their actions and decisions, setting a powerful example for their teams. A boss who can acknowledge that we all make mistakes is the kind of person we want to work for.
Self-aware and accountable bosses are also more likely to manage their emotions, seek feedback, and make informed decisions. A good leader openly acknowledges failures and turns them into lessons, but a bad leader places blame without examining their role in the outcome.
3. Communication
Competent communication is crucial for leadership. This includes not only conveying messages clearly and concisely but also listening actively. It’s difficult for employees to respect or feel positively about a boss who ignores or dismisses them.
Leaders who excel in communication can inspire employees, energize their teams, prevent misunderstandings, set expectations, articulate their vision, and encourage open dialogue. A communicative leader fosters trust and gives employees the tools and information they need to perform.
4. Empathy
The emotions and perspectives of team members are important, and empathetic leaders can use them to better their companies. Empathy leads to solid relationships, a supportive work environment, and satisfied employees.
This trait is vital for creating a cohesive and motivated team. For example, an empathetic leader might adjust deadlines for an employee dealing with burnout, while an apathetic leader will offer an unproductive and cold “it is what it is” mentality.
5. Adaptability
Leaders who are adaptable can navigate uncertainty, innovate ideas, and remain flexible in their approach. This trait helps leaders respond promptly and tactfully to surprise situations, always keeping their eye on what comes next. The most impressive leaders use failures as opportunities for growth and improvement.
Adaptable leaders are also decisive, so rather than wallow in a failure, they push forward with a plan. Timely decisions based on available information, even in sticky and scary situations, keep teams and companies resilient.
6. Vision
A clear and compelling vision for growth and evolution provides direction and purpose for the team. This inspires everyone to work towards a common objective. Having a vision is all about looking at the bigger picture, which skilled leaders do at every turn.
Without a clear vision, being decisive, adaptable, and communicative becomes much harder. Short-term gains and goals won’t inspire people the same way a thoughtful company mission will.
Be the Boss They Love
A good boss means a more productive company. But being a good boss doesn’t mean driving your team to the brink of burnout. It means working with them to make the company the best it can be.
When workers like and trust their boss, they’re more productive and engaged. Want a stronger team? Be a stronger leader.
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