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The Top 10 Leadership Skills

Being a leader takes a lot of work and comon sense. In today’s world many of those who have the ability to “make or break” a business, or even a nation, are lacking some, or all of these 10 qualities that any leader should posess:

1. Have vision. Leaders have a clear sense of where they want to go and how they intend to get there. They see the big picture, then create a strategic plan for achieving their goals and are not afraid to share these goals with the rest of the team. 

2. Make decisions. Leaders aren’t afraid to make difficult or unpopular decisions because they have confidence in themselves and in their abilities. They know that indecision wastes valuable resources, time and opportunities.

3. Take risks. Leaders have the courage to act in situations where results aren’t assured. They are both willing to risk failure but also learn from that failure.

4. Motivate others. Leaders can articulate their vision and ideals to others, convincing them of the value of their ideas. They can inspire people to work towards common goals and to achieve things they never thought they could do and reward those who helped achieve those goals.

5. Build teams. Leaders create productive teams that draw the best from people. They effectively coach teams in collaboration, consensus building, and conflict resolution.

6. Possess self-knowledge. Leaders know their own strengths and weaknesses and are able to view their behavior objectively. They recognize their shortcomings, open themselves to feedback, and are willing to make changes when necessary. Leaders do not portray the “I am the boss” mentality.

7. Display integrity. Leaders must be trustworthy before others will follow them. Qualities that establish trust are competence, constancy, caring, and candor, which are defined as authenticity, reliability, and feeling comfortable with oneself.

8. Pursue lifelong learning. Leaders have a desire to continually learn and grow and are open to new ideas. True leaders are not afraid to recieve input or ideas from other individuals that are not in leadership positions.

9. Communicate effectively. Leaders can convey their ideas to diverse individuals or groups and adjust their styles accordingly to meet the needs of all the people they lead.

10. Help others succeed. Leaders empower others and go out of their way to help them achieve their full potential, thereby benefiting the organization. A true leader is never afraid of “over empowering” other employees for their own self-benefit.

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