What Makes One a Great Leader?

A great leader is hard to come by.

Leaders shape our countries, communities, and businesses.

Great leaders are needed to guide us and make the large-scale decisions that keep the globe moving forward.

A terrible leader is usually easy to spot in our culture, but how can you spot a good one?

What qualities do most people consider to be important in a leader?

To connect well with their employees, team members, and clients, the best leaders need a strong set of leadership skills.

Leadership skills, according to behavioural theories, are not ingrained and can be taught.

People can develop effective leadership traits through teaching and acquiring these skills over time.

Outlined below are a few qualities that all good leaders possess regardless of the kind of organization they are in charge of.

Qualities of a Great Leader

1. Effective Communication

Effective communication and effective leadership are inextricably linked.

The finest leaders are skilled communicators who can convey knowledge, inspire people, and coach direct subordinates in a variety of ways.

You must be able to listen to and communicate with people from a variety of backgrounds, including roles, regions, and social identities.

Yes, there are nonverbal clues, but the ability to openly express oneself and develop empathy for others is a critical basis for good leadership.

The quality of leadership communication within your firm has a direct impact on the success of your business plan.

Learn how better communication and conversations can help you improve your company’s culture.

Read: The Impact of Effective Leadership Teams In Workforce Management

2. Respect

Good leaders treat others the way they want to be treated, from direct subordinates and colleagues to clients and their own higher-ups.

Those they lead frequently follow suit, resulting in higher morale in the workplace.

One of the most crucial things a leader can do is treat people with respect on a daily basis.

It will reduce tensions and conflict, build trust, and boost productivity.

Respect encompasses more than the absence of disrespect, and it can be demonstrated in a variety of ways.

Learn more about how you can create a respectful work environment or how you can become an ally to others.

Read: The Rise of Ethical Leadership in the Workplace

3. Influence

“Influence” has a negative connotation for some people.

However, inspirational, effective leaders must be able to persuade others using logical, emotive, or cooperative arguments.

Influence is not the same as manipulation, and it must be done in a genuine and honest manner.

It necessitates emotional intelligence as well as trust.

This is why, in today’s world, many companies are involving their executives in workplace communications and making it a key part of their corporate communications plan.

Leaders should serve as role models for others, encouraging them to live by the company’s basic values and align with its long-term objectives.

Learn how to use successful influence to change the game.

Read: Should a Leader be Feared or Loved?

4. Integrity

The value of honesty should be self-evident.

Integrity is an important leadership trait for both the individual and the business, even if it isn’t always a statistic in employee evaluations.

It’s especially critical for top-level executives who are responsible for charting the organization’s course and making a slew of other critical decisions.

If you don’t have integrity, you won’t be able to achieve real success.

You can’t expect your followers to be honest if you don’t have any.

Honest and effective leaders keep their promises, embrace their core beliefs, lead by example, and follow through.

Ensure that your organization’s executives at all levels are reminded of the value of honesty and integrity.

Read: What Made Julius Caesar a Great Leader?

5. Ability to Delegate

Delegating is one of a leader’s most important roles, although it can be difficult to do it effectively.

Many new leaders are accustomed to doing all of the work themselves and find it difficult to delegate authority to others.

The goal isn’t simply to free up time for yourself.

It’s also to help your direct reports grow, collaborate more effectively, have more autonomy, and make better decisions.

Delegation necessitates leaders moulding the thoughts and ideas of others toward a single purpose.

They provide their team with all they need to succeed and then get out of the way, not guiding their course but rather setting clear expectations and indicating where the finish line is.

This necessitates leaders moulding the thoughts and ideas of others toward a unified purpose.

They provide their team with all they need to succeed and then get out of the way, not guiding their course but rather setting clear expectations and indicating where the finish line is.

Delegating duties and raising their team are some of the most crucial leadership skills of excellent leaders.

Delegation and elevation teams shine as a result of this, as they are able to contribute in the most relevant way possible.

6. Vision

A company’s vision is only as good as its leader’s ability to inspire others.

Good leaders are clear about the organization’s direction and act decisively.

New ideas require decision-making, which ensures that team members comprehend the bottom line and the goals and mission in front of them.

True leaders instil loyalty, excitement, and devotion in their followers, as well as reminding them of the larger picture and challenging them to go above and beyond.

People believe that vision is one of the leadership abilities that you are born with but nothing could be further from the truth.

Every great leader has had to work hard to achieve the leadership qualities of vision and foresight.

It wasn’t something that came naturally to them.

They focused on honing their ability to become a world-class visionary for their company and the people they lead.

7. Confidence

It’s difficult to speak up at work, whether you’re trying to express a fresh concept, give feedback to a direct report, or raise a concern with someone higher up.

That’s one of the reasons why self-assurance is such an important leadership quality.

But the thing is you must roll up your sleeves and take action to be an effective leader.

This includes having the confidence to lead, and believing that your goals and vision are not just feasible for the team, but also the best option.

Confidence allows leaders to stand up and advance things in the right direction rather than avoiding problems or allowing disagreements to fester.

One of the leadership skills you must cultivate is confidence in all situations.

Great leaders can remain confident in every scenario, even when they are afraid or uncomfortable.

People will instantly notice if you lack self-confidence in a leadership position.

When it comes to self-confidence, they say, “Fake it ’til you make it.”

This is completely true. The more you believe in yourself, the more equipped you will be to deal with any difficult scenario.

8. Positivity

Even the most relaxed workplaces can become stressful at times; what matters is how leaders respond to this tension with a positive attitude rather than becoming agitated and blaming others.

Positivity isn’t one of those attributes in a leader that should be neglected or dismissed.

Leaders hope that their team’s everyday operations operate smoothly all of the time, but they’re bound to hit a snag now and then.

Whether it’s a slight misunderstanding or a massive blunder, how you manage a difficult circumstance reveals a lot about your leadership abilities.

Being positive in the face of adversity or stress is a show of strength.

It’s an indication that you can keep your head straight and lead your team even when things aren’t going as planned.

Conclusion

Your management style has an impact on how you engage with employees and should be assessed.

There are nine various leadership styles, and the best leaders can adapt each to their circumstances and personnel.

It’s important to remember that becoming a good leader takes time.

Although some people are born with natural leadership abilities, it is something that anyone can learn and improve.

You can lead your team to success via hard effort, devotion, and strategic preparation.

Before You Go…

Hey, thank you for reading this blog post to the end. I hope it was helpful. Let me tell you a little bit about Nicholas Idoko Technologies.

We help businesses and companies build an online presence by developing web, mobile, desktop, and blockchain applications.

We also help aspiring software developers and programmers learn the skills they need to have a successful career.

Take your first step to becoming a programming expert by joining our Learn To Code academy today!

Be sure to contact us if you need more information or have any questions! We are readily available.