Traits of Top Leaders in the World
You have probably heard, at least at some point, of the term "born leader." This phrase tells us that the qualities of a good leader are often innate. While that isn’t always true, oftentimes you are born with leadership skills, charisma, and drive. Or, alternatively, you may have some of these skills and just need to develop them. For example, communication, goal setting, strategic thinking, decisiveness, gratitude, and more—all of which can be fostered through continued practice.
However small the organization or team may be, becoming a leader can be frustrating at times. However, the rewards are tremendous. Whether this is your first time taking up a leadership position or you've been managing teams for a while, knowing the traits of top leaders is beneficial, not just to you alone, but to the organization or team(s) you are leading.
Here are the traits of the top leaders in the world and why you should emulate them:
Vision and Mission
First and foremost, a good leader is the one who sets out what is to be achieved by the team or organization and how it can be achieved (the vision). The vision is most times communicated within a mission statement.
To develop the vision of the organization, you, as the leader, have to invest time into pinpointing the specific goals to be achieved and set out calculated, measurable plans to achieve them.
Self-Motivation
Successful leaders are always self-motivated. In fact, this is the most common trait you will discover in anyone holding an authority position.
As a leader, if you are short on self-motivation, you will also be short on respect (from others), and you may have to add extra effort to be seen as a strong leader. Regardless, there is no cause for alarm if you are someone who lacks motivation. One way to tackle your low self-motivation is by defining goals and creating schedules to foster self-drive.
Another method for staying motivated is rewarding yourself after achieving a set goal. The reward can be tangible (like a treat or special purchase) or intangible (intrinsic accolades). However, it must be something worthy or valuable enough to keep you motivated to reach your next goal.
Optimism
Optimism is contagious energy. The best leaders are found to exhibit this trait. Optimism makes it easier for leaders to be loved, respected, and worked with in the long-term.
A good attitude also contributes to the inspiration and ideas of the team members. In addition, optimism is good coping strategy for when, inevitably, there are obstacles.
Self-Confidence
Self-confidence simply means one’s ability to believe or trust in themselves or the skills they possess.
This trait should be in every leader, not just CEOs, and managers. A leader with a heightened sense of self-confidence will find it easy to persuade team members and fellow colleagues to move in a specific direction and will earn respect in creating structure without overriding anyone’s personal beliefs or perspectives in the process.
Worried that you don't have the self-confidence needed to be a great leader? Here is a quick and effective tip – fake it! When people fake self-confidence, they begin to look and sound self-confident. . . and in time, will begin to feel that way.
Decisiveness
It is the job of a leader to make decisions. Some leaders will have to make a few decisions in a day, while some have dozens and dozens of them to make in a 24-hour span. Regardless of the amount or seriousness, decision-making is undoubtedly one of the responsibilities of a leader.
You can help to build your leadership qualities by focusing on your decision-making skills. Begin with smaller matters and gradually move to tougher decisions.
Emotional Stability
As a leader, you will experience frustration and emotional stress almost every day and how you handle this matters. This is why it is crucial for leaders to have strong and stable emotions.
Having emotional instability can easily knock you off track, and this is not good for a leader. If you easily lose your temper or don't function well under stress, take a minute to have a deep breath or go for a walk.
However, having emotions, in general, is not a bad thing. When you are emotional, you are also intuitive and empathetic. The key is to be balanced so that you aren’t overreacting or making rash decisions.
Team-Building
Building a team is not simply bringing people into a shared space. A team has a purpose, and it is driven by a leader.
If you have been a member of several teams or groups, you will find that leaders who lack respect for their team members lose popularity over time. On the other hand, leaders who respect every member of the team and treat them with respect and in turn are respected.
Gone are the days of disciplinarian leaders. Today, leaders that inspire and motivate their teams, while building unified and inclusive workspaces, are the ones who have the most success.
Takeaways & Next Steps:
Are you ready to take your next steps as a leader?
Check out this article about building and preserving diverse workspaces to ensure your workplace is keeping DEI at the forefront. And this post about actionable DEI practices you can start incorporating if you’re a small business owner!
Article by Timi Ishayle and FWD Editorial Team
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