Characteristics of a Good Leader

"A leader is a dealer in hope." - Napoleon Bonaparte

 

When leaders are chosen, everyone wants them to live up to their expectations. A lot of hopes are pinned on them to bring about change and reform, for the betterment of the field they belong to. But what exactly goes into the making of a good leader? There are many things that determine if a leader will be good or not, the most important being his/her characteristics. Some of the characteristics of a good leader are acquired through leadership training, development and experience while the others are in born. Those leaders who have in born traits of good leadership are usually the ones who assert successful leadership. Not much can be done to make a good leader, it is always easier if effective leadership comes naturally to him/her. Since there are so many leadership roles that they are expected to carry out, it is essential for them to display, if not all, at least a few characteristics of good leaders.

Characteristics of a Good Leader

Whether it is team leadership, corporate leadership or global leadership, the basic traits of a good leader remain common. Additional positive characteristics may be required, depending upon their field of work. Here are some of the characteristics of a good leader.

Self Leadership: This is probably the most important characteristic of a good leader. It asserts that only when a leader leads himself towards excellence, will he be able to lead his followers on the same path.

Personal Leadership: This is a that is commonly observed in good leaders. Personal leadership enables them to take charge of their lives and instill the same desire in their followers. It is a motivational leadership trait, that all leaders must have or strive to acquire.

Confidence: Believing in their own abilities is an essential trait of a good leader. Unless and until he has confidence in his abilities he will not be able to lead effectively.

Character: A leader's character plays a vital role in determining the effectiveness of his leadership. Trustworthiness and honesty are the two important aspects of a leader's character. Even a slight flaw in his character will lead to the followers, not believing in his ways. Therefore, he should follow all the set leadership principles.

Communication: Effective communication is a vital leadership trait of a good leader. He should be able to put across what needs to be done and how. At the same time, he should be willing to accept relevant suggestions from his subordinates. He should have the ability to listen, question, analyze and observe effectively. He should believes that actions speak louder than words.

Knowledge: Being highly knowledgeable about his field of work is an essential characteristic of a good leader. Only when he himself is thorough with his field of work, will he be able to guide, solve problems and queries and train his subordinates appropriately. This is also a quality required for leadership development.

Respect: A good leader does not demand or command respect, he earns it. Respect should not be restricted only from the followers to the leader, it needs to be mutual. All team players should be respected and if the leader sets an example for this, the team will follow undoubtedly. This could be a vital characteristic of a strong leader.

Vision: Being a good leader requires that the person is able to think, considering the future and giving it equal importance as the present. He should be able to successfully convince his followers and make them understand the need for change, which will ultimately result in the achievement of their common goals.

Attitude: Sporting a positive attitude, even in the worst of situations is a characteristic of a good leader. He should be able to instill the same in his followers, by appropriate motivation and problem solving techniques. The attitude of a leader is an important determinant in the successful overcoming of leadership challenges.

Strategic Leadership: This is an important aspect of and leadership skills. This includes planning and organizing of team activities, allotment of tasks and responsibilities, effective time management, etc.

And most importantly, to make a good leader, it is necessary to be passionate towards the work he does. His team should have a zeal towards the achievement of their goals.

The above mentioned traits of a good leader, can be acquired through various leadership books, that talk about various aspects of good leadership like transformational leadership, leadership models, leadership strategies and different leadership styles. There are also a number of leadership programs and leadership courses, that can help train potential leaders in acquiring some of the characteristics of a good leader.