Qualities of a Good Leader

Not everyone is cut out to lead. Some are born to it, others come to it through training and experience. But no matter what route a person takes to a leadership role they need to exhibit the same combination of skills, personality traits and values if they are to be effective. In this post, the team at C-me take a close look at the qualities that make a good leader.

Defining the Qualities of a Good Leader

Some people in leadership positions have no business being there. The ones that do typically exhibit the following qualities:

They communicate effectively

People expect a leader to provide guidance, but they can't do that unless they know how to communicate effectively. A good leader doesn't waste words, knows how to organise his or her thoughts, fosters discussion and is a good listener.

They have a vision

Whether they are leading a country or company an effective leader has a clear vision of the future. They are able to use their outstanding communication skills to articulate this vision for the members of their team.

They're decisive

Some situations call for thoughtful deliberation. Others require decisions to be made on the spot. An effective leader is capable of making well-informed decisions that will benefit the organisation regardless of the circumstances or the degree of pressure on them.

They are emotionally intelligent

Emotional intelligence is crucial to managing relationships in order to keep everyone pulling in the same direction. The effective leader has a highly developed sense of emotional intelligence they use to fend off conflicts and nurture a collaborative work environment.

They hold themselves accountable

Leaders need to set an example for members of their team and one of the most important examples they can set is taking responsibility for their mistakes. This quality is important for building trust with members of the team.

They're confident

When it comes to leadership, confidence is crucial. A leader who exudes confidence - as opposed to arrogance - instils confidence in others. What separates confidence from arrogance is humility as expressed by a willingness to listen and learn and an ability to acknowledge mistakes.

They're flexible

On just about every level the world is changing at breakneck speed. Leaders today need to be more than confident, they also need to be able to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances without getting flustered.

Conclusion

Leaders understand the responsibilities thrust upon them and are able to get things done by employing the above-listed qualities.