Common Traits of Successful Leaders
Successful leaders share many common traits. They show high levels of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. They’re trustworthy and able to learn from their mistakes. They love to learn and enthusiastically seek out new skills and information. They’re also able to see effective traits in others and use that information to develop themselves.This week I’ve come across several articles and blog posts about the traits of successful leaders. Here are a few I’d like to share with you. They can guide you as you identify high-potential employees at your organization.Four Leadership Traits to Win in Business Today. The Huffington Post: “Self-Awareness. In a period of breakneck innovation, a CEO must be ready to explain to their employees, customers, vendors and other stakeholders why the strategy they have been pursuing now has to change fast - and do so without embarrassment. This calls for leaders who understand the impact of their strengths and limitations, manage their emotions and personal biases, and have a clear understanding of the impact they have on the other people. As self-awareness expands so does a solid sense of purpose and intent where its influence extends beyond the bottom line of their organization.”11 Communication Skills of Effective Project Leaders. CIO: “Clarity: Great project leaders gear their communication methods, mediums and styles toward their audience. They also have the ability to take something complex and make it simple in order to reach audiences at different levels. Mark Grimm of Mark Grimm Communications and former TV News Anchor who has interviewed Presidents Bush and Clinton understands the importance of leadership and simplicity and says, ‘Simplicity is not simple. A leader's top communication quality is the ability to paint a clear and vibrant picture of the company or group's true purpose.’"Commentary: 4 No-Fail Traits of Exceptional Leaders. Military Times: “Exceptional bosses promote inclusion over exclusion. Exceptional bosses refuse to hoard information, control decision-making, or focus their attention and energy on a small, clique-ish group of people. They prefer, instead, to create a widespread sense of belonging. Belonging is one of the most basic needs that every person has. As such, exceptional bosses understand the importance of making others feel included….They take every reasonable opportunity to let people know they belong, that they are valued members of the team.”3 Effective Leadership Traits of U.S. Presidents. 1to1 Media: “Dwight D. Eisenhower was almost always described by the people who knew him well as being trustworthy...One of the hallmarks of a great president, and business leaders, is trust. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity. Employees want their leaders to be more trustworthy and transparent. They want to be informed of any changes that affect the company and their positions up front and not after the fact. Therefore, effective business leaders establish a strong foundation of trust among their employees.”Need A Leader? 4 Management Skills To Look For In An Employee. Vital Learning: “Find a real motivator. No one wants an office of workers who simply do the bare minimum and feel no ownership over their work. Managers have the power to keep their employees motivated and impact the work being produced. By building confidence in their direct reports, managers motivate successful work performance.”Contact us if you’d like to learn how we can help your organization’s leaders understand and improve their leadership competencies.Success Labs is a leadership development and management consulting firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more than 25 years, our expert team of consultants has worked with hundreds of companies to explore their business potential and improve their company and cultural performance. Contact us to get proactive about your people strategy.
