4 Essential Qualities of Great Leaders: Do You Have Them?
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Written by Cherie McLaughlin
4 Essential Qualities of Great Leaders: Do You Have Them?
Whether you’re managing a project, a team, or a business, leadership is critical. Leadership isn’t just the ability to get things done; it’s the ability to rally people with diverse backgrounds and motivations toward a common purpose. As Ronald Reagan put it, “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.”
A business’s leadership style affects company culture from the top-down. Controlling and narcissistic bosses eat away at employee morale and drive a company’s best employees away. Good bosses, on the other hand, have been proven to improve job satisfaction, employee loyalty, and productivity.
Despite the importance of good leadership, only half of employees think their leaders are effective, and even leaders themselves have doubts: Only half of the 2,800 leaders surveyed for a recent report said they feel confident in their roles.
Why Good Leadership Matters
Investing in leadership skills isn’t just a feel-good measure. Good leaders have a real impact on a business’s bottom line:
Companies with employees that are put under constant pressure to perform spend 50% more on healthcare costs.
Disengaged employees are absent 37% more often and have 49% more workplace accidents.
Happy employees are more invested in their company and are more likely to work together.
Highly-engaged teams are 21% more profitable.
4 Qualities of Great Leaders
What exactly is “good leadership”? The truth is, there are a range of leadership styles, each with their pros and cons. However, regardless of which leadership style you subscribe to, there are some qualities all leaders need to have:
Great communication skills
In order for delegating to work, leaders need to be able to communicate their plans and vision. Great leaders understand how to communicate concisely and clearly so everyone is on the same page.
Problem-solving ability
Leaders are also the ones in charge when things go awry. And when that happens, they need to be able to make decisions quickly using the information available. When it comes to business decisions, wasted time is wasted money.
A sense of fairness
Sometimes business decisions go wrong. When they do, good leaders are accountable. And just as they accept blame when things go wrong, leaders don’t hesitate to hand out praise where it’s due. While integrity sometimes clashes with the bottom line, it’s essential for earning employees’ respect.
Enthusiasm
Finally, enthusiasm. If a leader doesn’t care about the company’s mission, their team won’t either. Sincere enthusiasm, on the other hand, is contagious. While it’s important for leaders to be realists, the importance of enthusiasm can’t be understated.
How to Improve Your Business Leadership Skills
Pursue professional development: Ask your boss to send you to leadership training or pursue independent workshops and free online courses.
Find a mentor: Sometimes the best guidance is someone who’s been there. NPR’s advice can help you find a mentor who accelerates your professional growth.
Talk to your employees: Already in a leadership role? An employee satisfaction survey can help you uncover where you currently stand with employees and identify areas for improvement.
Go back to school: Pursuing higher education or going back to school to earn a master’s degree is a good way to help build your leadership skills. The best part is that it’s easier than ever to do so thanks to many universities offering courses online.
Whether you’re chasing a leadership position or want to feel more confident in your current role, investing in leadership training and development is a great move. Leadership skills improve your team’s productivity, your company’s bottom line, and if that’s not enough, they’re also great for your own career outlook.
Published on October 27th, 2020
