Being a skillful leader positively impacts how teams do their work, how families develop, and how entire countries move forward. The phenomenon of leadership can be observed almost everywhere, including Pakistan. There are leaders in offices, schools, and other parts of business. However, one might wonder: what constitutes a great leader?
In this blog, we will be focusing on what great leadership is, and we will examine 10 key traits of great leaders. However, these traits are not meant to be exclusively reserved for CEOs and political leaders. They can be applied to people who simply wish to lead others in some capacity, such as a small business owner, a cricket team captain, or a family head. The desired aim is to be a better leader for your people.
1. Integrity and Honesty
Building trust starts with integrity. People stop following leaders with a willing heart. In doing what is right, integrity is doing what is right when no one is looking. We have all been there, tough projects where mistakes happen. The bad leader blames others. The great leader takes responsibility and fixes the mistake.
A strong leader also knows how to hold people accountable without blaming or creating fear, which strengthens trust within the team.
Weakness is blaming others. Apologizing and correcting the mistake takes true strength. When you are misled, a team feels unsafe. When you lead with honesty, a team feels safe, and a safe team can perform better.
2. Effective Communication
If people can’t understand you, you can’t lead. Effective communication is about making your point simple. It’s also about listening. Effective leaders use simple language. They don’t use jargon. They make sure to focus on the listeners and set the goals.
Think of a supervisor who has a lack of effective communication when giving instructions. The value of instructions will confuse the employees, and mistakes will happen, leading to frustration for both parties. Now, think of a supervisor who clearly explains each step, checking for understanding. They answer questions and listen to concerns.
3. Strong Vision
Every leader needs to know where they are headed. This is called vision. You need to have an idea of what the future holds. This is another core quality that explains what constitutes a great leader.
If you have ever been a captain of a sports team, you should have a vision of the championship you want to win. If you don’t, the team may drift and lack focus. Your team needs you to guide and set the course.
A good leader paints a picture of the future vividly. They remind the team of the significance of their work. This sustains and boosts motivation and prevents monotony or lack of direction.
4. Respect for Others
Mutual respect is the foundation of upward mobility. Americans, in particular, value mutual respect. Show respect to all of your team members.
No matter if the cohort is an intern or a captain, they are deserving of respect and good treatment. A great leader thanks and pleads. They do not raise their voices or embarrass people in front of others.
Your team members feel appreciated as individuals as well as employees when you treat them with respect. This motivates them to work harder for you. Conversely, disrespect leads to arguments and annoyance. Teams are broken down by that. Respect others by appreciating their time.
5. Empathy and Compassion
To be compassionate is to be considerate of the feelings of others. You want to help when you see someone hurting. It can be tough at work. Life sometimes is too much to handle. A poor leader will remark, “Just get the work done.”
“I understand,” says a strong leader. How may I be of assistance?
This has a significant impact. It fosters cooperation and loyalty. People show concern for you when they sense your concern. You hear both points of view. You come up with equitable solutions. This maintains the group’s cohesiveness.
Empathetic leadership also builds psychological safety, allowing team members to share concerns, ideas, and mistakes openly.
6. Courage to Make Decisions
Bravery should be one of the attributes of a leader. You will undoubtedly be making difficult decisions and, at times, sharing difficult news, holding some risks.
Courage doesn’t mean you aren’t concerned. It means you act even when you are concerned. Some people aren’t able to accept failure and are able to learn from the process, other than from their mistakes.
Also, when it comes to taking the heat to protect the team, you have a team member disability. You are with the team, and that earns their respect and trust. This is yet another essential characteristic that clarifies what constitutes a great leader.
7. Resilience and Patience
Things don’t always go the way one anticipates. Plans fail; the environment of the market is also a factor that changes. It takes a leader to be able to surmount all of that and have the willpower to drive through the adversities of challenges.
Do you shy away from challenges and look for ways to succumb to obstacles? That’s a sign of defeat, and that’s not being a leader. The tree metaphor is a good one. You should be the one who takes on the challenges. The leader should be strong, and that should be you.
Leaders are role models for how teams will react to challenges. They will remain optimistic and keep pushing if you do. If you go negative, they will become demoralized.
8. Collaboration and Teamwork
Nothing great was ever done without a team. A good leader believes in the importance of teamwork.
Great leaders understand the value of a good team and spend time assembling a team with a good mix of diverse experience and skills. They welcome and even encourage every team member to bring their ideas to the table. They do not try to boss people around. Instead, leaders often ask, “What is your opinion?”
9. Self-Awareness
To lead others. You must first lead yourself. Self-awareness is knowing your strengths and weaknesses.
We are all fallible. Perhaps you are excellent at organization and bad at tech. A really good leader is honest about this and brings others in to help.
Self-aware leaders are in control of their feelings, even in difficult situations. If you find yourself becoming angry a lot. Take a break to avoid lashing out. The way you deal with your feelings sets a tone for the rest of the team.
10. Gratitude
People don’t want to be appreciated only financially. A simple “Well done” can improve morale. It is not a burden to you. However, you will reap the benefits. Gratitude improves the atmosphere, and that is the impact grateful leaders have. Their team becomes happier and more engaged.
