It is a well-known fact that leaders around the world have various leadership styles they exhibit – from amicable to domineering, applying the open-door policy to being authoritarian. As an individual, regardless of your temperament, the potential of being a good leader can be groomed. It is important to jettison the idea that great leaders are born, not made. This kind of mindset can potentially limit the development of leadership because in truth, even in the myriad of different leadership styles that exist, there are many characteristics that good leaders share.

Regardless of where you are placed, as the Managing Director of a big organization, a small business owner or a student working to achieve your academic goals, you have the potential of being a leader wherever you are planted, and it is imperative you discover what type of leader you are. It is based on this you can begin your leadership journey and/or development. The leadership traits you will need to develop will assist you in overcoming difficulties, take calculated risks and discover ways to be an impactful person.

Leadership traits are those characteristics every good leader bears. They are not reliant on your job designation, income, or personality. They are a combination of principles and attitudes that any person can embrace.

A person’s leadership style is unique to certain combination of skills acquired from education and experience however a person’s leadership traits are things all good leaders have in common. A good understanding of this distinction would be helpful in developing these qualities and set you in the path of enormous success. So then, what are these leadership traits?

1. Confidence

Good leaders are confident and are aware they can function outside any confinement to achieve any goal. They are aware that having qualities like honesty, emotional dexterity and ingenuity are more important than making a profit or impressing a crowd. How can confidence be displayed? It is mostly from non-verbal communicative cues. Verbal displays of confidence could easily be misconstrued but no one can deny confidence oozed from a person before they utter a word! It is advised to practice standing tall, making eye contact, taking deep breaths to calm nerves, and restraining yourself from fidgeting. Practicing non-verbal confidence cues help you appear confident even if you do not feel confident and this sends a signal to others to follow your lead and trust in your abilities.

2. Focus

Learning to focus on what you want to achieve is of great importance to keep your eyes on the result you want to achieve. Planning and organizing is key but being flexible to accommodate unforeseen challenges are helpful to curb frustrations. Distractions are a major bane that must not be allowed to interrupt your focus flow and it is good to communicate to those around you when you are available to them and when it is “focus time” where their issues will not be entertained.

3. Vision

There is hardly any great leader celebrated in the world today who was not a person of vision. A powerful vision comes from a well of purpose that is without the murky waters of lack of clarity. It is a purpose that gives your life meaning and gives you a sense of fulfillment, which is so inspiring that others are compelled to join you in achieving it. This would not only help in achieving your objectives but would breed leadership qualities among your subordinates as well.

4. Resilience

A lot of leaders in the world today were not born with inner leadership traits. They did not wake up one morning and automatically become respected renowned leaders. They got on the wagon of growth and development, willing to work on their weaknesses and push themselves with new challenges every day. Scriptures say, “a righteous man fails seven times but raises again”. The key is to remember that incidences in life happen for you, not to you. Every situation, good or bad, should be taken as an opportunity to gain experience something and grow from it. Once this is achieved, your inner strength grows, and you can inspire others to do the same.

5. Integrity

It is believed that powerful leaders are characteristically untrustworthy but good leaders know how important it is to treat others the way they want to be treated. Being open and honest, like a boomerang, not only allows you to get your work done with integrity but aids you in making solid connections with other people. Whether you are leading in a family, a business, a church or in government, every person under your authority will look to your level of integrity to set one for themselves. It is imperative to let those under your watch know what your behavioral culture and expectations are, and to lead by example – integrity displayed can be imitated with ease. Also, be creative with how you give honest feedback in a straightforward and empathetic fashion.

6. Optimism

Good leaders are not pessimists. They seek out the good in every situation even amid frustrations or disappointments. They have a positive approach & attitude to life’s curveballs and know how to turn unforeseen setbacks into success stories. Develop encouraging personal philosophies that will compel you to move forward, not negative thoughts that will depress you. Visualizing challenges as opportunities not obstacles is a very salient trait of a good leader. Seeking for solutions rather than dwelling in the pit of the problems keeps the vehicle of life going and motivates others to follow suit.

7. Resoluteness

Every good leader needs to have the ability to make tough decisions. The ability to maintain resolve in the face of pressure can make a world of difference between going through a predicament or buckling under the pressure. Making these judgment calls would not always make you a likeable person but a good judgement call will earn you the respect of others when they are able to look at the bigger picture. Even if it eventually ends up being a bad judgment call, your ability to rectify that situation will mark you as a good leader as opposed to being indecisive or allowing someone else make the decision for you. A good leader who makes right but difficult decisions is perceived as a strong leader.

8. Valuable Communication

A good knowledge of your communication style and that of your team is one of the traits of a good leader that equips your team the most. Leaders convey their objectives in a way not just to ensure it is achieved but to stir up a passion for the shared vision. The power of words cannot be overemphasized here. The use of words that can be converted to positive emotions which can lead to achievement of objectives to a colossal degree. However, being an efficient communicator is more about what you do not do as opposed to what you do. Productive communication would require that you remain silent and keep your ears peeled, just as the Scriptures say, “Quick to hear, slow to speak…”. Keen listening and asking considerate questions go a long to show your subordinates you care about their thoughts and contributions.

9. Accountability

A good leader should expect to make a fair share of mistakes. Being a good leader does not mean you are infallible. Playing the blame game, trying to justify your actions, or pretending that the mistakes did not occur will eat away at the trust your team has in you, compel them to hide their own mistakes and discourage them from taking responsibilities for their own errors. Owning up to your mistakes and taking less credit for achievements will create a mindset of trust and humility. Being accountable will compel others to be accountable as well, giving everyone a sense of responsibility that keeps the achievement wheel spinning and keeps the team on track.

10. Empathy

Strangely, this is one leadership trait that is overlooked as it is mostly perceived as “weakness”. However, the right amount of empathy creates a strong sense of connection between leaders and their subordinates. A strong sense of empathy gives you the opportunity to know if you have gotten your message across and helps you see things from another person’s perspective. This would help you predict how effective your words and actions are on your team. Without empathy, you run the risk of self-alienating and cause a disconnect that would adversely affect the work dynamics on the long run.

11. Humility

Like being empathetic, this is not a weakness or an opportunity for others to treat you like a doormat. It simply means being approachable and respectful of everyone’s temperament and ideas. Jesus Christ, unarguably the greatest leader in the world exhibited this with how he managed the 12 disciples – from the outspoken to the timid, the impetuous to the calm, he dealt with them with graciousness and in a manner that they were comfortable enough around him to ask questions and carry out his instructions. A good leader knows that humility breaks down communication barriers, gives everyone a sense of belonging and cultivates self-esteem.

12. Creativity

This is another overlooked leadership trait but one of great importance. Creativity is synonymous with innovation and is required for you and your team to have an edge and stand out from the crowd. Being creative is simply finding a unique way of doing the expected. It is changing the narrative from the norm people expect and presenting them with the “usual” in an extraordinary fashion. Being creative keeps things fresh and interesting and gives you an indelible mark of being a leader with a remarkable difference.[