Six Characteristics of a Good Leader

You want to listen to them, they motivate you to work and they inspire their entire team. They constantly raise their skills, they excel at communication and they infect others with their energy.  A good leader. What characteristics should they posses? Read on.

Authenticity

They say one thing, but they do another? STOP! A true leader never does that. A manager is internally consistent. They are authentic in what they do and what they say. They operate according to particular values. They don’t manipulate their employees to reach their own goals. They never fail to behave ethically. They are always open, honest and credible in their conversations. They act with integrity no matter the circumstances.

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Communication

Communication skills are key for every manager. It is not just about the ability to speak in public, but also about active listening. Thanks to this, a leader can understand the needs of their team. Good interpersonal relations, resulting from communication skills, make the entire company operate more effectively.

A leader can provide constructive feedback, tailored to the recipient. This allows team members to be well informed and gain the ability to receive constructive criticism.

Optimism

Energy in a team drives activity. The team leader’s positive attitude and optimism make others want to work, and make them feel their duties make sense.

Optimism helps approach new tasks with openness. When you believe your objectives can be achieved and you are passionate about what you do, it can bring incredible effects. That’s why a leader should always encourage positive emotions, and infect others with their energy.

Did you know that…

There are natural predispositions for managerial positions. Natural charisma and optimism will definitely help you be a good manager. Many skills however, such as assertiveness, active listening, negotiation or work management and organization, can be taught.

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Assertiveness

Assertiveness can help their team focus on priorities. A good leader can negotiate deadlines and – if necessary – refuse the realization of a project if they know that they don’t have enough time or resources. A good leader also protects their team from being swamped with tasks somebody else should have performed, but didn’t.

The ability to say “no” also means saying no to their reports. It is important to do it in a polite and mutually acceptable fashion, of course providing the reasons for your decision.

Being goal-oriented

A leader is focused on the goal and courageous in the realization of their plan is a prerequisite of the team’s success and helps them realize their goals. A good manager is the one who focuses on achieving desirable effects, but they also take the possibility of failure into consideration.

A leaders’ effectiveness results from their excellent management skills. A good leader knows at what stage of realization every project is, and whether there are any obstacles or delays in its realization. Planning the tasks, being meticulous and monitoring the progress are the foundations of a manager’s work.

Ambition

A good manger is ambitious. They feel the need to constantly develop. They actively participate in trainings, courses and conferences, and they like to share the knowledge they gained with others. A leader constantly improves their managerial skills and pursues their interests.

More and more companies focus on effective leaders who can build their team and their relations with others successfully. They move away from the infallible manager model. Today, the most sought after feature of a manager is the ability to balance motivation and care for employees with the realization of their tasks.

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