Top 9 Characteristics of a Great Leader

The leadership qualities of an organization's leader play a vital role in its success.

Discover nine essential qualities, traits, and characteristics of a great and effective leader!

1. Exemplary 

A great leader leads by example and obtains management skills that inspire others to join him in the exciting project of building a great organization. 

He demands from himself the same level of professionalism and dedication that he expects from others. If he expects the team to be upbeat and friendly, he ensures he is. If he expects written reports to be error-free, he double-checks his work or asks for a second set of eyes. 

He also has great skills in distributing tasks correctly among his people, and he will do his level best to ensure the achievement of the agreed goals.

2. Visionary 

A great leader has a clear vision for himself and his people. He draws the support and commitment of his people to achieve the goals by being committed to leading and ensuring his people achieve the vision. 

He takes time to explain to his people or team how their assignments and projects fit into the organization’s larger goals and overall objectives. 

It will help demonstrate how every task they complete can have an impact on the organization’s reputation and success.

3. Optimistic

A great leader is optimistic. 

He or she has a positive mindset and models positive behaviors. He sees possibilities in "impossibilities." He believes that there are always better alternative solutions to every problem.

4. Inspiring

A great leader praises the efforts and achievements of his team. It will not only build up their confidence but also encourage future contributions and efforts. 

Praise does not always have to be formal. Praising employees can be part of day-to-day communication with the team. 

Ken Blanchard suggests that managers take an extra minute to offer praise and criticism or ensure that instructions are clearly understood.

5. Trustworthy

To be a good and effective leader, one needs a blend of two elements: charisma and aptitude. You must be a person of integrity—someone people trust and are willing to follow.

To be trusted, you must be trustworthy. You must also believe in yourself, your organization, the essential goodness of your products and services, and your people.

You need to believe that you are offering an excellent product or service in every way, one that makes a difference in the lives of your people or clients.

6. Diplomatic

While he is great at making his people truly understand the organizational vision, he is also great at human relations.

A great leader is an excellent listener; emphatic, compassionate, and knows very well how to bond teamwork within and outside his organization.

7. Creative

Becoming a great leader takes courage and creativity. Thus, an effective and great leader must also be creative. He is always on the lookout for better ways to run and build up his organization. 

8. Decisive

A great leader makes decisions and sticks to them.

He knows that people do not feel comfortable with someone who changes his or her mind on a whim. A humbly confident leader can make decisions without fear of being wrong.

Employees lose trust in managers if they are in denial of the repercussions of a decision they make.

9. Scholastic

Good leaders are made, not born.

Good leadership is, therefore, learned. And, thus, any person who has the willpower to learn can become a great leader.

Hence, a great leader must be an avid learner and be engaged in a continuous improvement process of his capacities so that he will be better able to cope with the ever-increasing challenges.