15 TRAITS OF AN EFFECTIVE LEADER
What really are the Traits of an Effective Leader? Well, I cannot really give a complete list of what are the traits of an effective leader. I suppose there are more than what I can think of. For me, Effective Leadership is always a combination of many things. But based on my personal experience in my consultancy work, I can enumerate at least 15 Traits of An Effective Leader.
- Vision
Where there is no vision, the people perish…. Proverbs 29:18
A good and effective leader is visionary. He always has a clear goal in mind toward which to work. He knows where he is heading and can drive people to share the same vision they have for their organizations and their lives.
- Passionate
An effective leader is intensely passionate in whatever he is focused on. His passion gives him so much energy to pursue his vision despite the obstacles he encounters. An Effective leader is determined in attaining their goals.
- Compassion
“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8
Despite his passion for accomplishing his vision, a good and effective leader has compassion for his supporters or employees. He has a great coaching and development skills trying to bring out the best in his people; he consistently takes care for the individuals that support him. He is never selfish, he is mindful of his own or organizational wants and needs, he always sees where his people are coming.
- Charismatic
Not all good visions elicit support from people. Support are easily enjoyed by leaders who are charismatic. A Charismatic leader tends to draw people in with his personality. It could be in the way he talks, the way he carries himself and the way he deals with people. He is excellent at building relationships and demanding performance from his peers.
- Great Communicator
The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4
A good and effective leader can communicate his thoughts very well. He is not necessarily a great orator, but he is one of those who can truly express and can persuade people. Good communication skills involve a big deal of listening skills. By Listening, it is easy for a leader to understand his people and can ultimately win them.
- Fair
Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit. (Exodus 23:1,2)
Fairness means dealing with others consistently, and justly. A good and effective leader must check all the facts and hear everyone out before passing judgment. He or she must avoid leaping to conclusions based on incomplete evidence. When people feel they that are being treated fairly, they reward a leader with loyalty and dedication.
- Assertive
Assertiveness is not the same as aggressiveness. Rather, it is the ability to clearly state what one expects so that there will be no misunderstandings. A leader must be assertive to get the desired results. Along with assertiveness comes the responsibility to clearly understand what followers expect from their leader.
It seems that being passive or passive may be the most common weakness among aspiring leaders.
- Integrity
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Proverbs 10:9
Integrity is the integration of actions and inner values. A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be expeditious to do so. A leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.
Honest dealings, predictable reactions, well-controlled emotions, and an absence of tantrums and harsh outbursts are all signs of integrity. A leader who is centered in integrity will be more trusted by their followers.
- Courageous
Courage does not mean offense. But courage is the ability to push through with one’s goals, saying, what is the truth in the most acceptable manner, and pursuing what is right despite the opposition of many.
Leaders that are courageous are bold. Winston Churchill states that courage is the virtue on which all others virtue rest on.
10. Disciplined
Most good leaders are very controlled in the pursuit of their goals. Where most individuals would be simply distracted or dejected, a good leader disciplines his mind to keep focused and steady regardless of the situation.
11. Dedication
Beautiful dreams and vision simply fade away in the absence of dedication. Dedication means spending whatever time or energy is necessary to accomplish the task at hand. A leader inspires dedication by example, doing whatever it takes to complete the next step toward the vision. By setting an excellent example, a good and effective leader can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs on the team, only opportunities to achieve something great.
12. Humility
The bible reminded us to be humble. In Psalms 18:27 it is said,”You save the humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down”.
Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team. A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone. Leaders with humility also understand that their status does not make them a god.
13. Openness
Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision.
14. Creative
Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. Creativity gives leaders the ability to see things that others have not seen and thus lead followers in new directions. The most important question that a leader can ask is, “What if… ?” Possibly the worst thing a leader can say is, “I know this is a dumb question… ”
15. Humor
Leading can be tough at times.A sense of humor is vital to relieve tension and boredom, as well as to defuse hostility. Effective leaders know how to use humor to energize followers. Humor is a form of power that provides some control over the work environment. And simply put, humor fosters good camaraderie.
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every leader have different styles of leading the team ,but most them brings out the best of every individual to succeed with their goals
The article is really believable because the Author gave a real-life testimony about becoming an effective leader based on his experiences.
Leaders who communicate well are those who are not only sharing their thoughts with their employees, but also let their strength and personal character show through their communication, and empower those who work for them by defining the company’s goal and showing how to get there.
To remember an employee’s birthday is something that you can tell them that they are special too. It’s one thing to show them that they matter, that they are also important. They will be delighted if their birthday’s is remembered and they will also feel that they are valuable.
leader in me you have to be proactive because you are in charge of you.
How can you begin with end mind? You have to know before you do it.Put things first.Do the important things.Find a ways that everyone can win.
All of these traits are essential. A lot of people don’t think about this enough, and how important this actually is. Great leaders indirectly create loyal clients by creating an environment for employees to shine.
Nice article! A good leader is a good follower. Having the right attitude an effective leader has the skills and credibility to motivate his followers. Has the ears to listen and can relate to the issues of his subordinates.
A good leader is being able not only to share his ideas but listens to others’ ideas as well. Very nice article!
Being a leader not only mean the title, position, money or influence but also having the state of mind and having the vision of what you want to achieve. Not every leaders are the same but their styles are appropriate to different people and different circumstances. To lead effectively is based on a number of key skills becauase it involves motivating people and building respect. People become good leaders because they have the credibility and people wants to follow them.
-R.Z Vilches HRM2015
Leader should always be the front liner that back–ups his subordinates. And leader should also be a good servant.
Ma. Febe Legaspi
HR 2015
Great selection of skills. Leaders really have to be well rounded on the skills mentioned, specially on the humor part.
This is a very nice article. Also, I would have the same opinion for the top 15 traits of an effective leader.
Antonio Jose Ferraris HRM2015
Those ideas are useful, I could make use of these if time comes I will be handling my own branch.
Nice Article.
An effective leader is someone who is honest(the most important of all these traits) and who is able to LISTEN to the concerns of his community. – HRM2015
This list Contains so many traits a leader should have, in my experience people who possess all these and more are a dime a dozen, but leadership is learned they say so i guess every body can be one if the mind set is right.
A must trait every leader should have! Must take note! In everything you do especially if you do it out of LOVE & COMPASSION goes a long way.
Leader should walk their talk:)
Becoming an effective leader is not a one-time thing. It takes time to learn and practice leadership skills until they become a part of you. christy mae tenila HRM2015
I agree that there’s a lot more traits that are not listed here, but this article lists the highlights. A must-read info! (HR2015)
Helpful! Leader who leads the group with passion. Leader who has the ability to motivate the group to achieve a common goal.
I totally agree, having these traits would make a good and effective leader. Good leadership is the key to a successful organization. A good leader = happy & motivated employees = excellent work output.
Everyone can be a leader.. but not everyone becomes a GOOD leader. These tips will surely help us become an ideal leader someday.
C. Magno
These tips are awesome! Just like what Spiderman had said, “In great power comes great responsibility.” 🙂 Leaders must have enough courage to ask themselves if they really are fit to become leaders, accept their shortcomings and continuously work on becoming a leader by applying the tips that you’ve mentioned above. 🙂
These tips are awesome! Just what Spiderman had said, “In great power comes great responsibility.” 🙂 Leaders must have enough courage to ask themselves if they really are fit to become leaders, accept their shortcomings and continuously work on becoming a leader by applying the tips that you’ve mentioned above. 🙂
ideal list for a leader, proper use of these traits and skills should be considered.
I love this! Very useful! Being a leader is not just having a title that you can be proud of. But being a leader comes from within. It is a special skill and not all human has it. Its a skills of influencing and motivating your followers.
– Norman Villa
Does this mean that you have to have all these traits to really become an effective or good leader? Or can 7 or 8 out the 15 be enough. We are just but human… Hehehe. ( just for the good sense of humor)
As I go through the qualities of an effective leader it all boils down to being a good person who has so much LOVE within, so much so that the same LOVE overflows and is shared to others around him.
Leadership whether it is an innate or acquired, I believe it is a gift.Not everyone can be a leader, but tips could be of help.
In general we shouldn’t also forget to have faith, faith not only to our Good LORD but faith to people whom we led which includes their total well-being’s capacity because it anchors everything just like, whatever you do things will fall in place.
Leadership is a vital element in guiding an organization.
A leader is someone who can bring out the best in other people.
Leadership is a vital element in guiding an organization. An effective leader inspire others.
A good leader should set a good example. 😉
Leaders create a climate of growth and opportunity, a climate in which all want to carry their fair share and to excel.
Leaders help their subordinates to succeed.
Its really tough to be a leader & tougher to sustain it having different cultures & values in the organization. The most traits important traits of a leader is Integrity, having this you will surely stand out on any adversities..
Leaders who inspire people to serve and serve people to inspire- radiates!
Not everybody has this sense of humor. This trait makes a leader stand out. Its an asset to make work/goal so light to be achieved.
I believe one of the hardest traits to portray as a leader is humility. Sometimes, we subconsciously become superior among the group and we get to look a little arrogant just because we wanted the results to be perfect. It's so hard to be humble.
Treat employees like they make a difference and they will. That is being an effective leader, think about what your employees CAN, rather than focusing on what they CAN'T do..
I’d love for my kids to grow up to be great leaders. I try to develop these traits in them while they are still young.
Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.
Well written! These are really some important traits that a leader must have. Unfortunately, people nowadays don't tend to forget about this.
This sums up a great leader as someone who has a vision and can give direction to his flock. Humor is also an important ingredient as we need it to balance things out.
Everything that a good leader must possess is definitely in your list!
True.. Humor is needed. Some leaders are so stiff they don't even know how to smile.
Leadership is really a tough job,very fews do have such qualities….anyway nice article.