(1) Courage >> people will wait to see if a leader is courageous before they’re willing to follow his or her lead. People need courage in their leaders. They need someone who can make difficult decisions and watch over the good of the group. They need a leader who will stay the course when things get tough. Leaders who lack courage simply toe the company line. They follow the safest path – the path of least resistance – because they rather cover their backside than lead.
(2) Effective Communication >> they create a connection with their followers that is real, emotional and personal regardless of any physical distance between them.
(3) Generosity >> a good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit. They share credit and offer enthusiastic praise. They’re as committed to their follower’s success as they are to their own. They want to inspire all of their employees to achieve their personal best, not just because it will make the team more successful but because they care about each person as an individual.
(4) Humility >> humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. Great leaders are humble. They don’t allow their position of authority to make them feel that they are better than anyone else. As such, they don’t hesitate to jump in and do the dirty work when needed, and they won’t ask their followers to do anything they wouldn’t be willing to do themselves.
(5) Self – Awareness >> self awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence, a skill that 90% of top-performing leaders posses in abundance. It means that they have clear and accurate image, not just of their leadership style, but also of their own strengths and weaknesses. They know where they shine and where they’re weak. And they have effective strategies for leaning into their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses.
(6) Adherence To The Golden Rule +1 >> treat others as you want to be treated. Great leaders don’t treat people how they themselves want to be treated. Instead, they treat each person as he or she would like to be treated. One person loves public recognition, while another loathes being the centre of attention.
(7) Passion >> no one wants to work for a boss that’s unexcited about the job or even one who’s just going through the motions.
(8) Infectiousness >> great leaders make their vision comes alive so that the followers can see it just as clearly as you do.
(9) Authencity >> just be what you are and speak from your guts and heart, it’s all a man has. Authencity refers to being honest in all things – not just what you say and do, but who you are. When you’re authentic, your words and actions align with who you claim to be. Your followers shouldn’t be compelled to spend time trying to figure out if you have ulterior motives. Any time they spend doing so erodes their confidence in you and in their ability to execute. Leaders who are authentic are transparent and forthcoming. They aren’t perfect, but they earn people’s respect by walking their talk.
(10) Approachability >> management is like holding a dove in your hand. Squeeze too hard and you kill it, not hard enough and it flies away. Great leaders make it clear that they welcome challenges, criticism and viewpoints other than their own. They know that an environment where people are afraid to speak up, offer insight, and ask good questions is destined for failure. By ensuring that they are approachable, great leaders facilitate the flow of great ideas throughout the organization.
(11) Accountability >> great leaders have their followers’ backs. They don’t try to shift blame and they don’t avoid shame when they fail. They’re never afraid to say – the buck stops here and they earn people’s trust by backing them.
(12) Sense Of Purpose >> you don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case. People like to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. Great leaders give people that feeling.
Becoming a great leader doesn’t mean that you have to incorporate all of these traits at once. Focus on one or two at time; each incremental improvement will make you more effective. It’s okay if you act some of these qualities at first. The more you practice, the more instinctive it will become, and the more you’ll internalize your new leadership style.
