Whether you were born with these qualities or you’re working on adapting them, there are certain qualities that certain leaders have, which make them great at leading and inspiring a group of people.
Here are a few telltale qualities of a great leader:
1. Honesty is Their Policy
Great leaders hold many values in place, with one of the greatest ones being honesty. They make sure they stick to their word and speak their truth in order to gain the trust and respect they need from their team.
Great leaders also expect honesty from their employees and anyone they work with. They understand that honesty is one of the key underlying factors in achieving effective communication and teamwork. They also recognize that in order to expect that kind of behavior from employees, they must first demonstrate that sort of behavior themselves, as they must be an example for the group.
2. They’re Passionate About What They Do
Another important quality that a great leader has is passion. Great leaders are passionate about life, about projects, and about achieving their goals. They’re excited and energetic about planning and executing projects, carrying a sort of enthusiasm and passion that radiates outwards and affects those around them.
If you want your team to be positive, enthusiastic, and inspired when it comes to work, you need to set a positive example for them and encourage inspiration. Keep in mind that positive energy is contagious — as is negative energy. So stay conscious of the energy that you’re giving out, and find aspects pertaining to work that simultaneously excite and energize you.
3. They’re Understanding and Empathetic
As a leader, it’s easy to fall into the dictative style of leading. When you constantly tell your employees what to do with little understanding or empathy towards them or their personal situations, you’ll definitely show them who’s boss. However, you’ll also show them that you don’t have too much regard for their personal interests, concerns, and circumstances, which might not make it very easy for them to connect with you.
Your goal should be to show that you really care about your team, which can be done by being understanding and empathetic towards them.
To become more caring and understanding towards others, you can start by being kinder to yourself. Taking up everyday self-care practices can help make you more centered and balanced between your work and personal life, and in effect, lead you to treat others the same way.
4. They’re Very Communicative
It’s been proven that one of the top 10 things that employees want from their jobs is good communication. By maintaining good communication with your employees, you can show that you care about them and respect their opinions and insights.
Maintaining good communication also helps reduce opportunities for misunderstandings and improves productivity and efficiency in the workplace. Proper communication is truly important for getting everything done and moving forward with tasks on time.
Do You Want to Be a Great Leader?
As you can see, being a great leader isn’t about being extroverted and having a super outgoing personality — it’s about developing the right skillset and treating people the right way.
If you’re looking to develop some of the key qualities that make an effective leader (or bring these underlying qualities out from you, because we know you have them) — take the time to learn more about what we do. At Diary of an Entrepreneur, we have the strategies, support, and community that will help build you up and empower you to be a great leader.
