The Top 10 Leadership Qualities
I really enjoyed this article written by David Hakala for HR World. Some qualities were obvious while others exposed some of my flaws. Below is a summary of the article. If you want to read the entire article, click here.
Leadership can be defined as one's ability to get others to willingly follow. Leaders can be found and nurtured if you look for the following character traits.
Vision - A leader with vision has a clear, vivid picture of where to go. A good leader must have the discipline to work toward his or her vision single-mindedly, as well as to direct his or her actions and those of the team toward the goal. Action is the mark of a leader.
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 approachable by followers.
Dedication - By setting an excellent example, leaders can show followers that there are no nine-to-five jobs on the team, only opportunities to achieve something great.
Magnanimity - Magnanimity means giving credit where it is due. To spread the fame and take the blame is a hallmark of effective leadership.
Humility - A humble leader is not self-effacing but rather tries to elevate everyone.
Openness - Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking.
Creativity is the ability to think differently, to get outside of the box that constrains solutions. The most important question that a leader can ask is, “What if … ?”
Fairness - Fairness means dealing with others consistently and justly.
Assertiveness - 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.











