Qualities of a good leader. Do we inherit these qualities or were they nurtured in us?

By
nicholasjoseph
Published: January 29, 2010Posted in: Personal DevelopmentTags:
Qualities of a good leader. Do we inherit these qualities or were they nurtured in us?

 How often have you heard the comment, “He or she is a born leader?” There are certain characteristics found in some people that seem to naturally put them in a position where they’re looked up to as a leader. Whether in fact a person is born a leader or develops skills and abilities to become a leader is open for debate. There are some clear characteristics that are found in good leaders. These qualities can be developed or may be naturally part of their personality. Our personality traits are natural as we are born with them but I believe that to a great extent, our parents or parenting play a big part in moulding us into the adults that we are i.e. with admirable qualities or poor ones. Apparently there are seven qualities found in a good leader. Let us explore them. 1. A good leader has an exemplary character like being humble and charitable. Nobody likes a proud and arrogant leader as they tend to be self centred. It is through humility and integrity that followers will find a leader trustworthy. A good leader “walks the talk” and in doing so earns the right to have responsibility for others. True authority is borne from respect for the good character and trustworthiness of the person who leads. 2. A good leader is enthusiastic about his work or passion and also about his role as a leader, someone considerate to his team members. People will respond more openly to a person of such qualities. Leaders need to be able to be a source of inspiration, and be a motivator towards the required action or cause and this he draws from his passion and charity towards his team. Although the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, the leader needs to be seen to be part of the team working towards the goal. This kind of leader will not be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get dirty, to lead by example. 3. A good leader is confident. In order to lead and set directions a leader needs to be knowledgeable in order to confidently carry out his role. Such a person inspires confidence in others and draws out the trust and best efforts of the team to complete the task well. A leader who conveys confidence towards the proposed objective inspires the best effort from team members. 4. A leader also needs to function in an orderly and purposeful manner in situations of uncertainty. People look to the leader during times of uncertainty and unfamiliarity and find reassurance and security when the leader portrays confidence and a positive demeanor. 5. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose. Storms, emotions, and crises come and go and a good leader takes these as part of the journey and keeps a cool head. This leader is someone equipped with people skills and problem solving. 6. A good leader should be analytical in order to keep the main goal in focus. He analyses a situation as a whole as well as breaking it down into parts for closer inspection to determine a solution. Not only is the goal in view but a good leader can break it down into manageable steps and make progress towards it. 7. A good leader is committed to excellence. Second best does not lead to success. He not only maintains high standards, but also is proactive in raising the bar in order to achieve excellence in all areas. These seven personal characteristics are foundational to good leadership. Some characteristics may be more naturally present in the personality of a leader. However, each of these characteristics can also be developed and strengthened. A good leader whether they naturally possess these qualities or not, will be diligent to consistently develop and strengthen them in their leadership role.

About the Author

I am a fun loving family man with a big family. 4th generation Chinese. Have been in business for 30 years (marketing and sales). With the knowledge and experiences I have, I'd like to pay it forward. I would like to help people get more of what they want out life. Past couple of years have been into network marketing and have learnt from a few "gurus" their secrets. Applying the secrets I learnt to gain me a successful online business and aiming for my (more than enough), retirement fund. LOL. A strong believer in positive attitude and being charitable.