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10 Traits Every Great Leader Needs to Succeed

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Effective leaders influence the team and achieve the most desirable outcomes no matter the scenario or circumstance. Great leaders know when to ask teams for advice, take risks, and have strong communication skills. Below is a look at the top leadership skills every great leader needs to have to succeed in the workplace.

  1. Effective Communicator
  2. Innate Problem-Solver
  3. Motivated & Positive Personality
  4. Trustworthy Person
  5. Responsible
  6. Committed
  7. Flexible
  8. Charismatic
  9. Creative Teacher
  10. Delegator

1. Effective Communicator 

Communication is often given as the most important skill for leaders. Communicating effectively means being an active listener, being able to facilitate conversation, and also articulating and expressing thoughts clearly. From communicating about specific tasks to communicating about more emotional topics, the best leader corresponds easily with the team. 

2. Innate Problem-Solver

The best leaders are natural problem-solvers. They have no issue with thinking outside the box when needed or creating strategic plans to work through a challenge. Individuals can be better in certain areas of problem-solving than others, but good leaders can make quick decisions, adjust plans, and use the team to work through obstacles.

3. Motivated and Positive Personality

A positive attitude from leaders supports a happier workplace environment, even during periods of stress. A leader that always seems motivated encourages the team to follow suit.

4. Trustworthy Person

Team members trust leaders that portray integrity and credibility. Good leaders are conscientious, empathetic, and have a good moral compass when it comes to interacting with others. A trustworthy leader has no problem being held accountable, apologizes when they are wrong, and is honest with the team.

5. Responsible

One of the more important skills for leaders is responsibility. A responsible leader has no qualms about accepting blame for what the team mishandles. They are quick to acknowledge mistakes and transparent about conflict. Not only will a good leader be openly responsible when something goes wrong, but they will also work to resolve those problems and learn from mistakes.

6. Committed

Commitment is all about follow-through and perseverance. The best leaders commit to doing what they say they will do, even if that means they have to work longer or harder or adjust their plans. Team members can’t be expected to commit if the leader does not hold good on their intentions or promises.

7. Flexible

Bumps in the daily list of to-dos are bound to happen. A flexible leader can regroup, adjust, and make changes at will. When leaders have the ability to accept whatever obstacles and changes come their way, the team learns to appreciate that skill. Oftentimes, flexibility keeps a leader even-tempered—they take challenges in stride. Therefore, the team can adopt that same outlook.

8. Charismatic

Charisma is an often-overlooked trait of a good leader. Charismatic individuals are likable and exude a positive personality, which means others are more likely to be in tune with what they have to say.

9. Creative Teacher

Leaders can be the best teachers and mentors. Their roles frequently place them in positions to instruct and guide, so a good leader must be capable of doing just that. A leader needs the patience it takes to work with team members who need guidance. They should also be able to adjust teaching methodologies to better serve individuals that may learn in unique ways.

10. Delegator

Delegation is one of the key leadership skills for the workplace. A leader that knows how to delegate and make use of the skill sets of the team can get more done than a leader that tries to handle everything on their own. They can pass on certain objectives in a way that ensures they are adequately handled and free up time to focus on more important tasks.

Help Your Leaders Develop Leadership Skills with Learn2 

At Learn2, we offer both team building and leadership development programs, so organizations can develop the most effective teams and leaders for their operations. Contact us to start developing and nurturing your leaders by developing their leadership skills so that they can succeed and lead effectively.  

About Author

Doug Bolger is the world’s foremost instructional designer for participant-driven designs. He is changing how the world works, by changing how the world learns.

leadership development

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