What makes a great leader? Here are 5 defining traits.

There is a difference between good leadership and great leadership. Great leaders have certain defining traits that enables them not just to empower themselves, but to empower their employees as well. It’s commonly thought that these are naturally occurring personality traits of a select few, and while that may be partly true, these traits can actually be learned through soft skills training. Although there are a wide array of traits to be learned and discussed, we’ll be highlighting 5 of the traits great leaders have that close the gap between just good leadership and great leadership.

1. They have great communication skills.

Consistent, clear communication not only makes the mission, vision and values clear, but it also enables employees to clearly understand what it expected of them. A great leader listens well, using active listening when communicating with employees regarding their concerns to provide constructive feedback.

2. They are self-confident.

Often-times we view self-confidence as arrogance, especially in the corporate work environment, but genuine self-confidence uplifts not only oneself, but it uplifts others too. Self-confident leaders are able to keep their employees morale up when times seem grim. They can empathise with employees and uplift them without invalidating their concerns.

3. They are committed.

A great leader adopts the “do as I do” philosophy, instead of the “do as I say” method. They get their hands their hands dirty with their employees, doing the tasks that seem mundane, working alongside others to get the task done. These leaders earn the respect of their teams and drive productivity and work standard among employees, leading to workplaces that are overall happier and less stressful.

4. They delegate.

Any great leader would know that they cannot do everything by themselves. They also understand that delegating tasks could offer helpful insights by others. Certain tasks can be done by other employees who may have a better understanding of what needs to be done. Having confidence in employees abilities ultimately establishes strong morale among teams.

5. They take accountability.

A great leader understands that not everything will always run perfectly. They will always take responsibility of their own performance and their team’s performance, whether good or bad. When good, they will credit their team, validating each individual’s input that contributed toward the outcome, but when problems arise, great leaders will always identify the root cause and seek sustainable solutions to rectify the problem, while not forgetting problem solving techniques that includes the inclusion of their team.

The first step to great leadership is understanding the gaps in your leadership style and set goals to learn these skills and implement them. Our range of professional and personal development courses can help close this gap. Sign up here for updates on our skills courses and offerings. Alternatively, contact us for inquiries on the other services we offer South African businesses.