There are many schools of thought about the role of a leader. What are the essential qualities of a leader? What are the must-haves?
Well, I have three distinct opinions.
What makes a great leader?
- A leader taps into the team’s talents to achieve results.
- A leader’s role is not to engage their team but to achieve their mission by motivating and inspiring their people.
- A leader does not run a country club; they lead people to achieve something more significant than they could ever achieve as individuals.
The essential qualities of a leader
We also know that each leader should have a mission. Often, there are overlapping qualities between leaders in any industry and for all kinds of teams. For example, their mission is to create a cohesive, effective team in almost every case. Their mission could be to inspire, motivate, and bring out the best in their team.
But one thing is for sure, regardless of the exact details of their mission, there are certain qualities a leader must have to achieve them.
Here are the nine qualities that a leader must tap into to lead effectively and in line with their goals.
Be Creative
Leaders must be creative and unafraid to take creative risks. Creativity allows competency to move to excellence. It is the spark that captures people’s attention and builds a cohesive whole.
Know the Structure
Leaders know and understand the structure of their organization. But they also know when to move beyond the boundaries of these structures. While we all work within parameters and limitations, a great leader knows not to let structure slow the process. Knowing the structure enables you to guide others to work within it effectively.
Use Your Intuition
Intuition is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence. And emotional intelligence is one of the cornerstone qualities of a leader. Use your insight to sense what others are feeling and thinking so you can respond to them with understanding.
Be Committed
A leader is committed to success. One of the qualities of an effective leader is their ability to articulate a clear vision to the team. Then, they can also move and inspire the team toward the goal.
Be Human
Employees value humble and selfless leaders who don’t hide behind authority. The best leaders are those who aren’t afraid to be themselves. They respect and connect with others and inspire loyalty.
Be Versatile
Flexibility is the ability not to be attached to how things are ” supposed to be’ and allows you to respond to events that will inevitably come up.
Have Fun
A light touch and a laugh balance out the seriousness of the task at hand, enhancing the team’s resolve and contributing to results and retention. When appropriate, levity can go a long way in energizing your team members and promoting a positive team environment.
Discipline
Discipline is the ability to choose what one pays attention to and consistently model leadership. It’s one of the qualities of a leader that, by demonstrating it, they can also inspire their team.
Focus
Do not take your eye off your objectives … a leader achieves results!
Develop these qualities of a leader in yourself.
When you read through this list, chances are you mentally checked off some items. Maybe discipline and focus are two of your strong suits as a leader. However, chances are that there are also some qualities of a leader you would like to develop in yourself. In that case, we should talk. One-on-one coaching is for new or uncertain leaders who need help finding their way forward. Please read all about how it works here.