what are the most important qualities of a leader essay

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8 Essential Qualities of Successful Leaders

• Rebecca Knight

And how to cultivate them.

Becoming a great leader is a journey of continuous learning and growth. It’s a process — one that thrives on embracing challenges, seeking feedback, fostering connections, and cultivating understanding. In this article, the author outlines the eight most essential leadership qualities, according to Harvard Business School professor Linda Hill, one of the world’s top experts on leadership. Star leaders aren’t born with superhuman capabilities, Linda explains. Rather, they tend to have intentionally put themselves in situations where they have to learn, adapt, and grow — a crucible for developing the tenacity and fortitude to motivate and guide others.

Do you have what it takes to be a great leader ?

• RK Rebecca Knight is a journalist who writes about all things related to the changing nature of careers and the workplace. Her essays and reported stories have been featured in The Boston Globe, Business Insider, The New York Times, BBC, and The Christian Science Monitor. She was shortlisted as a Reuters Institute Fellow at Oxford University in 2023. Earlier in her career, she spent a decade as an editor and reporter at the Financial Times in New York, London, and Boston.

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Feb 15, 2023

Essays on Leadership for Students | 200 - 500 Word Essays

Are you writing an essay about leadership? Check out these examples!

Leadership is often defined as "the action of inspiring others to act in concert to achieve a particular goal." It signifies the harmony in actions that lead to a common objective. A genuine leader not only exudes confidence but also paves the way for their followers towards triumph. Over the years, various leadership styles have been identified and discussed by psychologists.

 Qualities such as intelligence, adaptability, extroversion, innate self-awareness, and social competence often emerge as the hallmarks of impactful leaders. There's a consensus that these traits mold an individual into an effective leader. Interestingly, some theories suggest that extraordinary situations can thrust an ordinary individual into the spotlight, bestowing upon them the mantle of leadership. It's also believed that leadership isn't a static trait but an evolving journey. It underscores the belief that with dedication and the right resources, anyone can hone their leadership abilities.

 True leadership goes beyond merely advocating for a cause. It involves taking responsibility, igniting motivation in others, and differentiating oneself from just being a 'boss'. A leader's essence lies in their ability to inspire and propel people towards grand visions, whereas a manager typically focuses on oversight and operational aspects.

What Is a Leadership Essay?

A leadership essay falls under the category of student application essays and serves to provide student admissions officers with insight into your past leadership experiences. Despite appearing to be very specific, this type of essay acknowledges that the nature and perception of leadership can vary significantly depending on the individual and the context.

 If you find yourself in need of further insights or a unique angle for your leadership essay, consider exploring an expert essay-writing tool designed to assist students in crafting compelling narratives by analyzing vast data and generating fresh ideas within minutes. In this article, we'll also delve into various leadership essay examples to offer a clearer understanding of the genre and inspire your writing journey.

4 Examples of Leadership Essays

Qualities of a good leader, introduction.

Confidence is the most important attribute first of all. One of the most important qualities in a leader is confidence in one's own abilities. A lack of self-assurance is fatal to a person's leadership potential. If you want others to follow you, you need to exude self-assurance. It's imperative for a leader to have faith in his own judgment and actions. How can people want to follow him if he doesn't even know what he's doing?

Every effective leader knows that they need to be an inspiration to their followers. A leader needs to set an example for his team. In addition, he ought to inspire them whenever feasible. A leader must also maintain optimism in trying times.

What qualities a good leader must have?

Leadership is the ability to influence and guide individuals or groups toward a common goal. A leader must possess several qualities to be effective, including:

Communication skills: A leader must be able to communicate their vision and goals clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. This requires excellent listening skills, empathy, and the ability to adapt to different communication styles.

Emotional intelligence: A leader must be able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as those of their team members. This includes being able to understand and respond to the emotions of others, and handling conflicts in a constructive manner.

Visionary: A leader must have a clear and inspiring vision of the future, and be able to articulate this vision in a way that motivates others to work towards it.

Strategic thinking: A leader must be able to think critically and creatively to identify and solve problems, make decisions, and develop plans and strategies to achieve their goals.

Flexibility: A leader must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and be open to new ideas and perspectives. This requires the ability to embrace change, be innovative, and continuously learn and grow.

Integrity: A leader must have strong ethics and values, and be willing to make difficult decisions that are consistent with their beliefs. This requires honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Decisiveness: A leader must be able to make tough decisions quickly, without undue hesitation or procrastination. This requires courage and the ability to take calculated risks.

Empowerment: A leader must be able to delegate responsibilities, give team members the resources they need to succeed, and foster a sense of ownership and accountability among their team.

Conclusion 

These qualities are essential for effective leadership, and when combined with hard work, determination, and a commitment to excellence, can help leaders to achieve great things.

How one can be a Great Leader?

Leadership is the act of performing the duties of a leader. In the business world, for instance, it is essential to have someone in charge of a team to ensure everything runs well. Effective leadership is essential for any group that wants to maximize its prospects of success.

Leadership Comes from Experience

As we've shown, leadership can be innate in some cases but is more often learned through practice and exposure. Sometimes the best traits of a leader must be learned over a lengthy period of time, so that one can become a notable one, proving that leadership is not always about a person's innate qualities. Leaders should continuously be on the lookout for opportunities to grow their leadership skills.

Nobody can disagree that experience is a key component of leadership. Numerous examples exist to back up this claim, such as:

Instance 1:

Our school's head boy or girl has traditionally been an older student who has been around for a while and thus has a better grasp of the ins and outs of school politics.

Instance 2:

When there is a vacancy for a team leader, it is common practice for the employee who has consistently put in the most effort and attention to the office job to receive a higher number of votes than their coworkers. 

“The best teacher for a leader is evaluated experience.” - John C. Maxwell

How one can be a Great Leader/Skills to be a Great Leader?

Effective leadership is a skill that develops through time. Developing into a leader with all the qualities that are needed takes a lot of hard work and potential. Being a prominent leader calls for a wide variety of traits. Some of these characteristics are addressed in further detail below:

One should be a Good Communicator

To be an effective leader, one must be able to convey his thoughts clearly to his/her/its subordinates.

Should have Confidence

The individual should have faith in what he says and does.

Give Credit to other Team Members too

A leader not only needs to impose his viewpoints and opinions instead he must also hear to the suggestions of other members of the team and offer them credit if their concept is appropriate.

Good Bond with the Team

A leader's ability to command respect from his team members depends on his ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with them.

Leads with Responsibility

A leader needs to be completely committed to his position. It's important that he takes on responsibility so that he can effectively deal with the various challenges he will inevitably face.

Any group or organization needs a leader above all else. Leadership development takes time and effort. One needs to have lived through a lot to be an effective leader. It's not enough to simply have years of experience in the field; one must also have the traits that make one an effective leader. You can't be a great leader unless you possess certain traits.

What makes a Good Leader?

Trying one's hand as a leader appears easy when viewed through this lens. Is that so tough? Of course not; leading is difficult, and not everyone aspires to be a leader. The vast majority of us have settled into well-established careers where we report to superiors and make a living. Still, not everyone is content to go along with the crowd. They become leaders in whatever field they pursue. A leader is an example to followers and will prioritize the needs of those around them.

Some Unique Qualities of a Leader

Many individuals resort to their leaders to vent their frustrations, therefore it's important for them to be good listeners.

A leader ought to be completely forthright; they can't play favorites or give anyone preferential treatment. One of the most essential qualities of a strong leader is the ability to make decisions with integrity.

They need to be aware of the bigger picture and understand what makes an individual stand out or become a leader. It's their expertise in addition to other distinguishing traits. Their awareness of current events and the results of recent studies is essential. In many ways, this is helpful, and it's the leader's responsibility to stay current.

Since some might not understand them, they should utilize straightforward, easily comprehended language. Leaders need to be able to communicate effectively at all times. In reality, what sets them apart is their exceptional communication skills. Adolf Hitler was such a gifted orator that his followers believed every word he said.

No matter how you're feeling or what's going on in the world, if you listen to a leader, they may make you feel energized. Since leaders are in charge of inspiring confidence in their followers, they can't afford to be wary or unsure of themselves. People tend to blindly follow their leaders.

Whether you're a leader or a doctor, you should devote yourself completely to your chosen field. Everything we do is for the benefit of others; engineers, for example, spend much of their time designing and constructing buildings for other people. So, take pride in what you do, and if you possess the aforementioned traits, you are also a leader who doesn't have to rely on others to succeed. No matter what you do, aspiring to leadership positions will always benefit others.

What is Leadership in Management and what are the weaknesses and strengths of a Leader?

Simply said, leadership is acting as a supervisor or manager of a group. Different mental pictures pop up when we hear the word "leadership" used in conversation. One might think of a political leader, team leader, corporate leader, school leader, etc. Leaders facilitate order and efficiency in the workplace. Teamwork and success are fundamental to effective leadership. Leaders utilize their managerial abilities to establish courses and guide their teams to success.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Leadership

Able to express oneself more clearly

Growth of character.

Self-awareness.

Possession of teamwork skills.

Gain assurance in yourself.

Weaknesses:

Acting favorably toward one's teammates.

Having no faith in the leader.

Thinks they're better than everyone else, but act hypocritically.

Not living up to the promised standard.

Insufficient morals.

Leadership and Management

Management and leadership are inextricably linked to one another. Leadership and management are both vital to the efficient operation of an organization; but, they accomplish very different things in the process. Leadership is a necessary skill for anyone aspiring to be an effective manager. The terms management and leadership are synonymous with one another. In this manner, we are able to draw the conclusion that a manager who demonstrates the traits of a successful leader is, in fact, a manager who is effective.

Leadership in School

Leadership is essential in nearly every group, as we've seen above. That group includes one's educational institution. Every school needs an outstanding figure to serve as its head of school. Class monitor, assembly captain, cultural leader, etc. are all examples of leadership roles that can be taken on at school, but this raises the question of what makes a person a successful school leader.

Any student hoping to be chosen as a student body leader will need to demonstrate a wide range of competencies. He or she needs to be a consistent student who pays attention in class and does well in extracurricular activities. For the simple reason that no intelligent and hardworking kid would ever be considered for leadership. Student leaders are most often selected from among those who participate fully in all activities.

Leadership in Organization

Leadership in an organization, also known as organizational leadership, is the process of establishing long-term objectives that further the company's mission and help it reach its ultimate destination. This is a classic illustration of how Bill Gates often works with his team: they agree on a strategy, and Gates implements it. To the same extent, it is the responsibility of the leader in each given organization to determine what it is that the group is trying to accomplish.

Leadership in Politics

Leadership in politics, also known as political leadership, is the process of becoming actively involved in a political party in the role of a party leader. Knowledge of political processes, their outcomes, and the political agenda is central to the idea of political leadership.

An effective leader can be developed in anyone who has the determination and drives to do so. Both the strengths and the areas for improvement should be nurtured. Whether in the classroom, the workplace, or the political arena, leadership is always necessary. Therefore, one can exercise leadership anywhere they like inside their own organization.

What are the types of Leadership?

The ability to lead is a rare trait that not everyone possesses. The ability to do so is a gift, so count your blessings if you possess it. It's recommended that you hone it even more so that you can propel your career forward and serve as an example to people around you. However, it is crucial to grasp the various leadership styles before you go ahead and polish your skills.

Types of Leadership Styles

Democratic Leadership

In this style of management, subordinates are given a voice in decision-making. Although the subordinates' efforts are highlighted, the leader is ultimately held responsible for the group's actions. Many people find this type of leadership to be effective.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leaders motivate and inspire others to adopt new behaviors and ways of thinking in order to improve their own performance and that of their teams and organizations. A transformational leader is someone who encourages their team to strive for greater things and works to boost morale and output.

Team Leadership

A good leader fully incorporates his team into the task at hand. Members of the team are motivated to reach their goals and advance in their careers thanks to the leadership of the group.

Strategic Leadership

It requires a chief executive who doesn't restrict himself to brainstorming sessions with his superiors. He contributes on every level of the team. He is well-liked for his ability to unite the need for fresh ideas with the necessity of grounding them in reality.

Autocratic Leadership

The leader in a command and control structure is the center of attention. The chief executive has absolute power in this setting. He decides things on his own, without polling his staff. He relays this information to his staff and stresses the importance of swift action. The buck stops with him, and he alone must answer for his actions. Not much room for negotiation exists. It's no secret that this method of leading has its detractors.

Visionary Leadership

This kind of leader appreciates the abilities and requirements of his team members. He describes his ideal outcome and the teamwork that will be necessary to attain it.

Coaching Leadership

Leaders who coach their teams do so regularly in an effort to raise output. He inspires his employees to do better and works to keep them motivated. This approach to leadership has been much praised.

Facilitative Leadership

With occasional guidance, a facilitative leader ensures that the process runs smoothly for his team. As a precaution in case his team is ineffective. If the team is highly effective, the leader will take a hands-off approach.

Cross-Cultural Leadership

The leadership of this type is necessary when interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds. Because of the wide variety of cultures represented in the workforce across the United States, many managers and executives hold cross-cultural positions.

Laissez-Faire Leadership

The members of the team are given responsibility in this style of management. They are free to choose how they spend their time at work, with minimal oversight from the boss. It's not a good way to lead, according to experts.

Transactional Leadership

An interactive approach is integral to this kind of leadership. When team members successfully implement their leader's ideas and choices, they are rewarded with immediate, material benefits.

Charismatic Leadership

In order to bring out the best in his followers, this kind of leader makes the effort to change their attitudes, values, and actions.

This article should dispel the notion that leadership qualities can't be further subdivided. It should also assist you in pinpointing your own personal brand of leadership so you can perfect it over time.

Final Words

In conclusion, leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept that involves various qualities and skills. Effective leaders possess traits such as integrity, vision, empathy, decisiveness, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. They are able to navigate challenges, make difficult decisions, and lead their team toward success. Leadership also involves continuous learning and self-improvement, as leaders must adapt to changing circumstances and remain relevant. Effective leadership can have a positive impact on both individuals and organizations, fostering growth and creating a culture of success.

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Characteristics of a Good Leader Argumentative Essay

What makes a good leader of a country.

A leader can be defined as someone who leads others. According to Greer, “a leader can be someone who is in charge or commands others in an organization or a country” (30). Leadership cannot be based solely on an individual’s responsibility. It is important to add that a leader is not just about politics.

Thus, leaders can be found in every sector including sports, entertainment, and corporate sector among other areas. The argument about leadership focus on: what are the right qualities? What should the leaders do to strengthen these qualities? How are these qualities developed? This paper seeks to argue the qualities that ultimately define a good leader in a country.

To answer the question on what makes a good leader appropriate, it is important to acknowledge that traditional qualities that have defined a good leader such as aptitude, strength, determination, and vision are not sufficient in today’s world. In this changing world, a leader- in addition to the listed qualities- needs a high degree of emotional intelligence.

A look at history can reveal a number of highly skilled and intelligent leaders who took over leadership of their country only for them to perform dismally. Therefore, it can be concluded that finding the right leader is an art and science. Notably, “although leaders may share general qualities, each leader has a personal style of doing things. Some leaders are passive and analytical while others are very proactive and confrontational” (Daft and Lane 52).

Another important thing to acknowledge is that a leader, especially in a country or state, will often face different situations that will often require different approaches. While pursuing diplomacy, the leader will be required to be a sensitive negotiator; while consoling victims of a disaster, the leader will need to show empathy and comfort; when dealing with state enemies, the leader is needed to have a forceful authority.

The general conclusion, in my opinion, is that, to be leader, intelligence, hard work, and vision are important aspects to consider. However, even with all these, a leader should have the emotional intelligence to be successful and sustain the leadership status that is made possible by the primary characteristics listed.

There are various aspects of emotional intelligence that are critical to good leadership. According to Goleman, “they include self-awareness, enthusiasm and responsiveness. Others include group skills and self-regulation” (21). Researchers have carried out studies in the corporate world, and the results have shown that emotional intelligence is often what distinguishes the outstanding leader.

The first component I analyze is the aspect of self-awareness. This refers to the ability to have a deep understanding of one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, motivational factors. To be self aware means that one is honest with his or herself. It also implies that the individual is neither critical of others nor unrealistic.

Further, individuals who are self aware can predict how different emotions will affect them and the performance of their work. For example, a leader who has self awareness may know that interviews with the press often make him or her nervous. Therefore, it is prudent to avoid such interviews and choose other methods of communication.

The same self awareness can be applied when it comes to ideals and values in which an individual believes. It has often been said that a leader who does not believe in anything will fall for anything. Therefore, the leader with self-awareness will be able to turn down an investor’s request to set up a big industry in the country if that investment will hurt the environment.

Weak leaders who lack self awareness will accept to do something, but after two or three years down the line, they will rescind their decision. It can be noted that people who have self awareness are coherent and articulate. They are able to speak openly and precisely tackle the areas they are addressing. They are also able to describe themselves accurately (Northouse 154).

The other component of emotional intelligence is self regulation. From the onset, it is important to acknowledge that emotions are part human life. Although humans cannot do away with emotions, it is possible to control and manage them.

Self regulation is the ability to manage and control one’s feelings in order to make one free from distractions. In this case, individuals should also be able to direct these feelings to a useful channel. For example, a leader may witness a shambolic presentation by members of his cabinet to a key investor.

With the disappointment, the leader may feel the urge to kick a chair or bang the table which will bring a negative side of him to the investors. Therefore, self-regulation is the ability to apologize to the investor and carefully select the words that will authoritatively, yet humbly explain to the members of the cabinet the areas that will need to be corrected. Another example is when the leader of a country faces a threat of attack from another country.

In such a delicate matter, one wrong move can cost the country in many ways. However, if the leader maintains calmness, does not panic, and can prepare the relevant stakeholders to deal with the problem, then the effect is different, and the damage can be controlled.

Self-regulation is also a strong pillar of integrity. Thornton noted, “on many occasions, people with integrity are often caught in decisions that lack integrity” (p.13). Although such leaders have integrity, they lack self-regulation, which often enhances integrity. An example is a leader who is faced with a crisis and has no solution for the crisis.

In the heat of things, the leaders may decide to apply a solution that is outside the law. Thus, although the action may have been intended to help the country, lack of self regulation may lead the leader to undermine his own integrity. The third aspect of emotional intelligence is motivation. It is almost an unwritten rule that a good leader should have motivation. In this context, motivation refers to the urge to achieve.

A motivated leader is one who is never contented with the status quo. They are always striving to do better things and doing them differently. Such leaders often raise the performance bar, and they keep track of the scores. In this case, a good example is Thomas Sankara, the slain leader of Burkina Faso from Africa. Sankara became the leader of Burkina Faso at a time when the country was reliant on donor funds.

Uncomfortable, with the status quo, he led his countrymen on an overdrive to practice farming to a level that had hitherto been unseen. The country was for the first time able to feed all its population without the aid from foreign countries. The same leader introduced a government policy requiring all top government officials to stop the usage of the extravagant Mercedes Benzes. Instead, government officials were encouraged to use the modest Volkswagen vehicles so as to save money for increment of teacher’s salaries.

The fourth component of emotional integrity is empathy. The uniqueness of this component is that, unlike the aforementioned components, this component is very easy to identify and recognize. However, the modern world will rarely reward a leader in business or politics on account of empathy. In this case, the conventional understanding of empathy is to be able to take other peoples’ feelings and give them priority as if they were one’s own.

In this context, empathy refers to the ability of the leader to consider the interests of all stakeholders when making decisions. The last component is the idea of social skills. The two components are related as they are concerned with the ability to establish meaningful relationships with other people. A leader is always leading and managing people. Thus, a good leader should be able to get along with these people.

From the discussion, it is clear that, to lead a country, a great team is what will deliver great leadership. However, in every country, there is a leader. Some are led by a monarch, others by dictators, or others like the United States by a democratically elected leader. In monarchs and dictatorships, leaderships will tend to be highly concentrated around an individual.

On the other hand, democracies allow power to be decentralized to other institutions like the parliament, judiciary and the executive. The common denominator is that, whether the power is decentralized or centralized, the leader or leaders of the country need to possess certain qualities to lead the country effectively. The argument put forward is that, apart from the conventional qualities, a good leader of a country should possess the quality of emotional intelligence.

Works Cited

Daft, Richard, and Patricia Lane. The Leadership Experience . Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western, 2008. Print.

Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ . London: Bloomsbury, 1996. Print.

Greer, Eddie. “Dare To Lead: Continuous Learning Creates The Best Leaders.” Professional Safety, 56.6 (2011): 30-31. Print.

Northouse, Peter. Leadership: Theory and Practice . Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2010. Print.

Thornton, Grant. What makes a good leader? 2008. Web. www.grant-thornton.co.uk/pdf/20-leadership-report.pdf

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12 Characteristics of a Good Leader

Leaders shape our teams, organizations, communities, and world.

We need good leaders to help guide us and make the essential decisions, big and small, that keep things moving forward.

Our society is usually quick to identify a bad leader, but how can you identify a good one? What would most people say are the qualities of a good leader?

What Good Leadership Looks Like

Based upon our decades of research and experience working with leaders at thousands of organizations around the world, we’ve found that the best leaders consistently possess certain fundamental qualities and skills. Here are 12 essential leadership traits.

12 Essential Leadership Qualities

• Self-Awareness
• Communication
• Learning Agility
• Collaboration

TIP: Download an action guide & summary of these essential characteristics of a good leader in PDF format to keep this list of leadership qualities at your fingertips as a reminder.

1. Self-Awareness

While this is a more inwardly focused trait, self-awareness and humility are paramount qualities of leadership. The better you understand yourself and recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, the more effective you can be as a leader. Do you know how other people view you and understand how you show up at work and at home? Take the time to learn about the 4 aspects of self-awareness and how to strengthen each component.

Treating people with respect on a daily basis is one of the most important things a leader can do. It helps ease tensions and conflict, fosters trust, and improves your effectiveness.  Creating a culture of respect  is about more than just the absence of disrespect. Respectfulness can be shown in many different ways, but it often starts with showing you truly value others’ perspectives and making an effort to build belonging in the workplace — both critical components of supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion.

3. Compassion

Compassion is one of the most powerful and important acts of leadership. It’s more than simply showing empathy or even listening and seeking to understand — as compassion requires leaders to act on what they learn. After someone shares a concern or speaks up about something, they won’t feel truly heard if their leader doesn’t then take some type of meaningful action on the information, our researchers have found. This is the core of compassionate leadership , and it helps to build trust, increase collaboration, and decrease turnover across organizations.

Motivating others and garnering commitment are essential parts of leadership. Purpose-driven leaders ensure they connect their team’s daily tasks and the values of individual team members to the overall direction of the organization. This can help employees find meaning in their work — which increases engagement, inspires trust, and drives priorities forward. You’ll want to communicate the vision in ways that help others understand it, remember it, and go on to share it themselves.

5. Communication

Effective leadership and effective communication are intertwined . The best leaders are skilled communicators who can communicate in a variety of ways, from transmitting information and storytelling to soliciting input and using active listening techniques . They can communicate well both orally and in writing, and with a wide range of people from different backgrounds, roles, levels, geographies, and more. The quality and effectiveness of communication among leaders at your organization will directly affect the success of your business strategy, too.

6. Learning Agility

Learning agility is the ability to know what to do when you don’t know what to do. If you’re a “quick study” or are able to excel in unfamiliar circumstances, you might already be learning agile. But anybody can foster and increase learning agility through intentional practice and effort. After all, great leaders are really great learners.

7. Collaboration

The most effective leaders can work with a variety of colleagues of different social identities , locations, roles, and experiences. As the world has become more complex and interconnected, good leaders find themselves spanning boundaries and learning to work across various types of divides and organizational silos. When leaders value and embrace collaboration, whether within their teams or cross-functionally, several benefits arise — including increased innovation, higher-performing teams, and a more engaged and empowered workforce.

8. Influence

For some people, “influence” may sound unseemly. But as a leader, you must be able to influence others to get the work done — you cannot do it all alone. Being able to persuade people through thoughtful use of appropriate influencing tactics is an important trait of inspiring, effective leaders. Influence is quite different from manipulation, and it needs to be done authentically and transparently. It requires high levels of emotional intelligence and trust.

9. Integrity

Integrity is an essential leadership trait for the individual and the organization. It’s especially important for top-level executives who are charting the organization’s course and making countless other significant decisions. Our research has found that leader integrity is a potential blind spot for organizations , so make sure you reinforce the importance of honesty and integrity to managers at all levels.

10. Courage

It can be hard to speak up at work, whether you want to voice a new idea, provide feedback to a direct report, or flag a concern for someone above you. That’s part of the reason courage is a key leadership trait — it takes courage to do what’s right! Leaders who promote high levels of psychological safety in the workplace enable their people to speak up freely and share candid concerns without fear of repercussions. This fosters a  coaching culture that supports courage and truth-telling . Courage enables both team members and leaders to take bold actions that move things in the right direction.

11. Gratitude

Being thankful can lead to higher self-esteem, reduced depression and anxiety, and better sleep. Sincere gratitude can even make you a better leader. Yet few people regularly say “thank you” in work settings, even though most people say they’d be willing to work harder for an appreciative boss. The best leaders know how to show frequent gratitude in the workplace .

12. Resilience

Resilience is more than the ability to bounce back from obstacles and setbacks — it’s the ability to respond adaptively to challenges. Practicing resilient leadership means you’ll project a positive outlook that will help others maintain the emotional strength they need to commit to a shared vision, and the courage to move forward and overcome setbacks. A good leader focuses on resilience, both taking care of themselves and also prioritizing leading employee wellbeing , too — thereby enabling better performance for themselves and their teams.

Download a PDF action guide and summary of these characteristics of a good leader, so you always have a visual reminder available of these 12 qualities of good leadership.

Develop the Characteristics of a Good Leader in Yourself & Others

Our 3 core beliefs about leadership & leadership development.

At the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)®, we’ve been researching the qualities of a good leader and the role of leadership for over 5 decades. Here are 3 of our core beliefs about good leaders and effective leadership.

Good leaders are made, not born.

First, we believe that leaders are made, not born. Put another way, leadership is a skill that can be developed . Good leaders are molded through experience, continued study, intentional effort, and adaptation. So you can strengthen any of these 12 characteristics of a good leader, if you’re open to growth, use your experiences to fuel development , and put in the time and effort toward self-improvement.

Similarly, organizations can help their people hone these top leadership qualities by providing ample opportunities for training, offering support for learning from challenges, and providing access to coaching and mentoring programs .

Leadership is a social process.

It’s also essential to recognize that  leadership is less about one strong or charismatic individual, and more about a group of people working collectively to achieve results together . If you demonstrate several of the characteristics of a good leader, but fail to grasp this key point, chances are you won’t get very far on your own. You may be well-liked and respected, but it will be challenging to accomplish team or organizational goals. At CCL, we like to say that the  outcomes of leadership are about creating direction, alignment, and commitment, or DAC , within a group.

Good leadership never stops.

Also, we believe that leadership isn’t a destination, it’s a journey   — it’s something that you’ll have to work at regularly throughout your career, regardless of what level you reach in your organization or what industry you work in. Different teams, projects, and situations will provide different challenges and require different leadership qualities and competencies to succeed. So you will need to be able to continue to apply these leadership characteristics in different ways throughout your career. Just continually keep learning and growing, and you’ll be an agile learner with a long career .

We Can Help You Develop the Qualities of a Good Leader

Organizations can strengthen leadership qualities and foster deeper levels of engagement at work through providing a variety of on-the-job learning experiences, mentoring, and formal development opportunities. At CCL, we have many award-winning leadership solutions with clients around the world, and we’d be honored to work with you and your organization as well.

But individuals don’t have to wait to begin strengthening these leadership characteristics within themselves. If you decide you want to work proactively on developing your leadership qualities and skills,  download our action guide & visual summary  of this content. And get our tips on how to  convince your boss to make an investment in you  and your future. We’re here to support you every step of the way on your journey to becoming a better leader!

Ready to Take the Next Step?

After you download the 12 Characteristics of a Good Leader , keep on learning and growing: never miss our exclusive leadership insights and tips — subscribe to our newsletters to get our research-based articles, webinars, resources, and guides delivered straight to your inbox. 

Keep these qualities of a good leader top of mind in the future: download a PDF summary of this article as an action guide and visual reminder of the leadership qualities to nurture in yourself, on your team, and at your organization in the future.

This article was written by our Leading Effectively staff, who analyze our decades of pioneering, expert research and experiences in the field to share content that will help leaders at every level. Subscribe to our emails to get the latest research-based leadership articles and insights sent straight to your inbox.

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With over 30 pages of insights gleaned from our research, this collection of resources includes actionable tips and team discussion questions to help you become a (better) leader with a focus on compassion, wellbeing, and belonging.

This introduction to our leadership philosophy explains how direction, alignment, and commitment (the elements of our DAC framework) are key in how leadership works, connecting exponential potential with collective progress.

Want to set yourself apart as a leader? Arm yourself with these 6 essential skills. Our global research study found that organizations will need these 6 key qualities that their leaders presently lack.

Do you know how to effectively communicate at work? It's the core of everything we do, and yet many of us have significant room for improvement. Get our top tips for leaders.

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Professional leadership coaching deepens and sustains leadership development. Learn more about our world-class leadership coaching services.

Learn more about our leadership training courses, which are targeted to develop the skills leaders need to succeed at all levels of your organization.

The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)® is a top-ranked, global, nonprofit provider of leadership development and a pioneer in the field of global leadership research. We know from experience how transformative remarkable leaders really can be.

Over the past 50 years, we’ve worked with organizations of all sizes from around the world, including more than 2/3 of the Fortune 1000. Our hands-on development solutions are evidence-based and steeped in our work with hundreds of thousands of leaders at all levels.

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What is leadership?

18 qualities of a great leader

What defines a good leader?

Watch out for these negative leadership qualities, how to improve your leadership skills, how to use leadership qualities in the workplace.

Think back to the best boss you ever had. What was that person like?

They probably possessed leadership qualities like active listening, confidence, and the ability to motivate others. As a result, you likely accomplished your best work and loved your job while under their leadership. 

At some point on your career path , you might want to learn some of these leadership qualities yourself. Maybe you’re ready to meet your full potential as a manager or team leader . Or, maybe you want to start developing your leadership skills so that you can get your next promotion. 

Whatever your reason, knowing the qualities of a good leader can help you grow professionally and succeed at work. It can also help you spot leadership potential in your direct reports — or call out a bad leader when necessary. 

Let’s define leadership and look at the 18 most important leadership characteristics. We’ll also share some tips for developing your leadership skills and show you how to exercise those skills in the workplace.

Leadership is about more than authority and being in charge . In fact, a successful leader doesn’t even need to have an official title.

This is because a title doesn’t automatically mean you’re a leader — especially a good one. And, not having a title doesn’t mean that you can’t be a leader.

Though some people think leadership is about ordering people around, it’s really about being a source of empowerment for others so they can achieve success for themselves and for the organization. It’s also about being able to make decisions in favor of the bigger picture or the organization’s goals, rather than for your own gain.

18 qualities of a good leader

Anyone can call themselves a leader. But to make an impact on your organization or your team, you need to learn a few essential leadership qualities. If you can start living out these characteristics, you’ll see your career grow and your team thrive. 

Let’s break down 18 essential qualities of a good leader in the workplace.

Great leaders aren’t passive. They’re highly motivated, and they truly believe in the vision of the organization.

This passion is contagious. Employees with a driven leader are motivated to work harder themselves.

2. Resilience

Being the one in charge isn’t easy. 37% of managers report that they felt a lot of stress on their most recent workday. But when you’re a leader, you can’t let the non-stop challenges dishearten you  — adaptability and resiliency are key. 

It’s okay to feel frustrated sometimes, but good leaders work on their mental fitness continuously and push forward despite the hardship. In fact, they often take pleasure in overcoming obstacles through creative problem-solving .

( Image Source )

3. Integrity

It’s essential for leaders to act with authenticity , honesty, integrity, and reliability.

Employees need to know that a leader will behave ethically . That they won’t say one thing and do another. Or that if they make a mistake, they’ll take responsibility rather than blaming the team.

Integrity means treating employees fairly and upholding the values of the company. This not only inspires trust in other team members but also encourages them to act with integrity as well.

“The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower

4. A desire to learn

If you’re promoted into a leadership position, you probably already know a lot. You’ve developed your skills and gained experience in your field.

But there’s always more to learn. Great leaders have a growth mindset — they’re on a constant quest for knowledge and personal development.

5. Self-awareness

Self-awareness goes hand in hand with the desire to learn. In this case, it’s the desire to learn about yourself and what you could do better.

One of the most important leadership qualities is humility . Good leaders understand their strengths and work to improve their weaknesses. Self-awareness can also help a leader develop a leadership style that fits their personality.

A good way for leaders to develop self-awareness is to solicit feedback from employees or peers. Don’t be insulted by criticism — this is simply information to help you become a better leader.

6. Confidence

Leaders have to make big decisions, and these decisions often come with big risks. It can scary being a leader because when you’re the one taking the risk, you’ll also probably shoulder the blame if things go wrong. But that’s just part of the gig.

To be a leader, you need to have the confidence to act decisively in high-stakes situations. Rather than showing anxiety in your behavior , you must be calm, collected, and resolute. 

Moreover, there are always people who disagree with the leader’s decisions. While it’s important to listen to other viewpoints, a leader can’t back down in the face of criticism or conflict. They need to have the self-confidence to brush off the people who doubt them and trust their intuition when they know they’re making the right choice.

7. Positivity

As a leader, you don’t have to be chipper all the time. But you do have to pass a sense of optimism on to your employees.

Employees like working for positive people. Out of managers rated by their employees as “great,” 79% have a positive attitude .

While a positive attitude is appreciated by employees, unrealistic expectations are not. A great leader expects their team members to succeed and then makes it possible.

If employees realize that they’re never able to achieve what the boss or leader asks for, they’ll stop trying.

A good leader keeps objectives optimistic but reasonable so that the team can experience a sense of accomplishment if they put in the work.

9. Creativity

According t o a study from Linkedin, creativity is the number one soft skill in short supply in the workplace. Creative leaders solve problems in unique, innovative ways. They’re willing to experiment and think outside the box .

Creativity is about seeking the best solution, even when it’s not the typical one, and thinking on your feet when situations change. Plus, a creative leader doesn't try to be the lone genius. Instead, they tap into the innovative potential of their people.

When an idea or plan isn’t working out, creative leaders also look for new ways to use resources and bring their teams together to develop innovative new perspectives and approaches to the problems they're trying to solve.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” — Steve Jobs

10. Communication skills

Great leadership is all about communication . If you don’t have good communication skills, none of the other leadership qualities or characteristics on this list mean anything. You won’t be able to get through to the people you’re supposed to lead, and that will have detrimental effects on your team and your organization. 

Clarity is especially important. According to the Predictive Index People Management Study, out of managers rated “bad” by their employees, 58% don’t communicate clear expectations . This can be immensely frustrating and disheartening for the whole team.

That means effective communication is one of the most important leadership qualities you can develop.

11. Listening skills

Communicating well isn’t just about talking. Active listening is essential for building trust and rapport with your team.

Good listening skills help a leader understand what employees need and where their pain points are, which shows the employees that their boss really cares.

This can be a hard quality for leaders to develop because it’s sometimes at odds with other good leadership qualities. Strong leaders are confident and full of exciting ideas, which makes many of them prone to dominating the conversation.

The best leaders balance opposing characteristics and know how to engage completely with what another person is saying while remaining open-minded about hearing new thoughts.

12. Empathy

An empathetic leader is compassionate and knows how to connect with others.

They care about the needs and hopes of their team members. Instead of jumping to harsh conclusions if an employee’s performance dips, they seek to understand the root cause.

This kind of emotional intelligence builds trust and helps the leader have better insight into their team.

“Emotional intelligence is the ability to use emotion to increase your own and others’ success” — Annie McKee

13. Decision-making

Part of being a leader is making decisions — and a lot of them. Because of this, a leader needs to know how to make decisions both efficiently and effectively.

While leaders will have to make small decisions every day, they’ll also have to make big decisions that affect their team and even their organization as a whole.

14. Strategic mindset

Employees who get promoted into management were excellent in past roles, getting every step right and showing great attention to detail.

But leaders have to see the big picture.

Leaders may be involved in tactics and operations to varying degrees. But they also need to know when to focus on strategy and entrust the small details to another member of the team.

15. An eye for talent

Good leaders create new leaders.

Part of leadership is choosing the right people for the job and then helping those people develop their own skills . A great leader can recognize and foster leadership traits even in the most junior members of the team.

16. The ability to motivate

True leaders inspire and motivate their followers .

In a work setting, a great way to do this is to show appreciation for your team members and recognize their achievements. 79% of people that quit their job say it’s because of a “lack of appreciation.”

Being an excellent leader motivates employees in and of itself. Employee engagement is higher when their manager is doing a great job.

“Leadership is hard to define, and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader” — Indra Nooyi

17. The ability to delegate

Though leaders care deeply that every aspect of their team’s work is done well, it’s important to trust your employees to handle their own pieces of the puzzle.

In return, they’ll trust you to take the lead on vision and strategy. Delegating responsibilities can also help everyone feel like they are contributing to the team.

18. Professional expertise

Leaders should be highly skilled and knowledgeable in their field.

That doesn’t always mean technical competence. For example, the CEO of a software company might not know how to write code. But they should definitely have a deep knowledge of the industry and products.

It’s that kind of expertise that lets a great leader craft an intelligent and achievable vision.

We’ve shared the 18 most important qualities that should be part of your leadership development — but every leader has a unique style . You’ll determine your own style over time, combining these leadership qualities with your own ingenious methods of supporting your team.  

That said, outstanding leaders have one fundamental trait in common: they can take a vision and turn it into real results. This isn’t something they do alone — leadership skills are people skills (aka soft skills) first and foremost . Excellent leaders also have the ability to inspire those they lead . Unfortunately, these elusive leadership characteristics can be hard to find.

Too many organizations lack indispensable leadership talent. In fact, only 42% of business leaders and 30% of HR professionals say that their organization’s leadership quality is high overall.

Here’s the good news: leadership skills can be developed . Any motivated person has the potential to become a good, or even great, leader .  

Sometimes the qualities of an excellent leader and a terrible one are surprisingly similar. If you want to evolve into a better leader yourself or help develop one on your team, you’ll need to pay close attention to certain traits. 

Let’s say someone appears to have many essential leadership qualities. They’re confident, great at delegating, and wonderful at execution. But if you take a closer look, you might see that this person intimidates their direct reports into doing their work for them, and then takes all the credit. This individual is clearly not fit for leadership — at least not until they learn to overcome these negative behaviors. 

But what about within yourself? Maybe you think you’re ready for a promotion, yet your colleagues keep getting opportunities that aren’t offered to you. That could mean it’s time for some self-reflection. You may unknowingly have some bad habits that are preventing you from stepping into your full potential. 

The good news is that we’re here to help with a list of negative leadership characteristics to watch out for. If you see one of these dispositions or qualities in yourself or your employees, it may be time for some self-development and inner work. 

Here are the most common character traits that are detrimental to anyone who wants to step into a leadership role:  

• Lack of vision: Inadequate leaders can do a lot of the same things good leaders do. But the leader’s decisions need to have a purpose, such as driving the team closer to the business’s strategic goals. If there doesn’t seem to be a clear, easy-to-communicate vision behind what employees are asked to do, they’ll quickly lose trust in their boss .
• Inability to produce results : It’s simple. No leader succeeds at everything all the time, but the excellent ones will have something to show for their efforts. 
• Uninspiring: If an individual can’t uplift, motivate, or inspire others, they’ll need to learn how before they can be a good leader. That’s because leadership isn’t something you do by yourself — it’s about the people you lead. 
• Overconfidence: A good leader is dauntless — they can confidently take on challenges. But poor leaders can have a lot of confidence and take risks, too. If they’re cocky, presumptuous, or arrogant, they have a lot to learn before becoming a leader. 
• Apathy: Too many people come to their jobs without feeling a sense of investment or ownership in their work. This can cause them to produce sloppy work and even have negative relationships with coworkers. This trait will be a major obstacle to anyone who wants to be a great leader.

So maybe you saw yourself in some of those negative leadership characteristics. Don’t worry — we’re all human, and we all have room to enhance our leadership skills, no matter our stage of life or job title. 

Here are a few tips for how you can start improving your leadership abilities today.

1. Perform an inventory of your leadership skills

It’s hard to improve your leadership skills if you don’t know where you’re lacking. Because of this, one of the very first things you should do is take an inventory of your strengths and weaknesses in leadership.

You can use our list of 18 traits above to do this. Consider each quality, and ask yourself:

• “Do I naturally possess this trait?”
• “How do I demonstrate this trait in my work and personal life?”
• “Do I use this trait in a leadership capacity? If so, how?”
• “If I feel like I’m lacking in this area, is this a skill I would like to develop?”

It can also be beneficial to ask others for feedback , such as friends, colleagues, or even your boss. Because they know you well and may have even worked with you, they can provide valuable insight into your strengths and weaknesses.

2. Set goals

Once you know which skills you’re good at and which you need to improve, you can set tangible goals in order to become a better leader.

For example, let’s say you lack positivity. In order to develop this trait, you could start keeping a gratitude journal that you write in every morning. This way, you start consciously focusing on the good in your life.

3. Seek out opportunities to practice

One of the best ways to better yourself is through practice. If you want to develop new leadership skills or utilize ones you already possess, you need to seek out leadership opportunities that will challenge you.

This could be volunteering to lead a team at work. It could also be mentoring someone new at your company, for example.

4. Get help from others

Seeking help from others is an important step in improving your leadership skills. It allows you to learn from others and see perspectives you may not have considered on your own.

Consider leadership training . This could be something your work offers, or you may need to seek out courses on your own. Alternatively, you could work with a coach who can help you map out a development plan and stay on track to reach your goals .

You should let your boss know about your intentions. They can likely help you find resources and give you opportunities to practice your leadership skills .

You don’t have to be in a management position to exercise the qualities of an exceptional leader. Leaders are the ones who help and motivate the people around them. They have good ideas and set a good example.

Employees at any level can have leadership qualities. In fact, anyone who hopes to be promoted into a leadership position in the future should work on developing the traits of a leader today.

Let’s look at ways you can use leadership qualities in the workplace.

1. Build strengths and overcome weaknesses

Find conscious opportunities in the workplace where you can further develop your strengths or work to overcome your weaknesses.

For example, maybe your listening skills leave something to be desired. The next time you talk to a colleague about a project, make a conscious effort to remember each point and follow up on the significant ones.

2. Be a knowledge sponge

Learn everything you can about your industry and your organization. Seek out training for new skills. You can do this through self-directed learning , or you can participate in formal programs. You can also utilize learning modes such as microlearning.

You might have all the skills you need for your current position, but learning new things opens up future possibilities. If you’re already in a management role, continuing to learn will help you have better ideas and develop a stronger strategy.

3. Develop your people skills

Every day is a new opportunity to become a better leader by improving your people skills. Whether you’re starting an entry-level job or taking on a major leadership role, you’ll have many chances to:

• Build relationships with your colleagues
• Communicate clearly
• Listen actively
• Be patient and empathetic
• Learn to negotiate and diffuse conflict

4. Do outstanding work

In other words, lead by example. Go above and beyond expectations, and you’ll inspire others to do the same.

Use leadership qualities to be a better leader

Leadership qualities aren’t mysterious attributes that some people possess and others never will. Instead, being a leader involves concrete skills that anyone, at any level of the business, can develop.

BetterUp enables organizations to develop strong leadership capabilities in all employees — not just the C-suite.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

What is servant leadership and how can it empower you team?

Refine your approach with these 7 leadership theories, developing leaders and the surprising whole-company benefits, how to be an empathetic leader in a time of uncertainty, what is a leader, what do they do, and how do you become one, types of leadership styles to maximize your team's potential, empathetic leadership: are empathetic leaders born or made, are people born leaders debunking the trait theory of leadership, how to empower your team through feedback, similar articles, the importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one, inspire others and support their growth. 10 ways to make it happen, authentic leadership: why showing up as yourself matters, a guide to becoming an effective leader, 'we are the champions' plus other qualities every good friend should have, professional leadership skills to incorporate on your resume, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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What Makes a Great Leader?

The coronavirus pandemic has tested leaders across the globe. Which do you think have risen to the moment?

By Jeremy Engle

Find all our Student Opinion questions here.

Now, more than ever, we need strong and effective leadership from our politicians and public health officials during this global crisis.

In your opinion, what makes a person a great leader? Courage? Trustworthiness? Empathy?

How much do you value hands-on life experience — and the ability to get things done?

How much do you appreciate strong character — and the integrity to do what’s right instead of what may be popular?

How much do you admire effective communication — and the power to inspire and unify through words and actions?

The Times video “ The Leader We Wish We All Had ” looks at the leadership style of Dr. Amy Acton, an Ohio Health Department official, who has earned praise for her daily briefings on the pandemic.

The Leader We Wish We All Had

A look at the style of dr. amy acton, who has earned praise for her daily briefings on the pandemic..

“This is no small thing that we are doing together. It is so incredibly hard to have shut down our lives the way we have. I am absolutely certain you will look back and know that you helped save each other.” This is Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health. Trademark lab coat, emphatic hand gestures, and a knack for metaphors. “It’s like Swiss cheese. So I want you to picture a hurricane. When you have a fire on your stove and you have your kitchen extinguisher, you’ll want to get it quick.” You may not have seen her press briefings. But in Ohio, they’ve become a daily ritual, catapulting her from unknown local official to cult icon. “Hi, my name is Amy Acton. Any questions?” “Dr. Amy is going to help us fight out the coronavirus.” In her youth, Dr. Acton overcame neglect and homelessness on her way to being crowned homecoming queen. And last year, she became the first doctor appointed to run Ohio’s health department. Under her, Ohio has become a leader in responding to Covid. It declared a state of emergency with just three confirmed cases, and it was the first state to shut down schools. Later that same week, some governors were still proudly eating in packed restaurants. And Dr. Acton issued a stay-at-home order affecting more than 11 million people when the death toll was still just three. So how did Dr. Acton do it? To find out, we watched more than seven weeks of press briefings, and we noticed themes that, well, let’s just say other leaders should pay attention to. First up, she empowers us. Take a look at this clip from the day Dr. Acton issued that stay-at-home order. “I don’t want you to be afraid. I am not afraid. I am determined. But I need you to do everything. I want you to think about the fact that this is our one shot in this country. All of us are going to have to sacrifice. And I know someday we’ll be looking back and wondering, what was it we did in this moment?” Of her 65 words there, 12 are pronouns. Her repeated use of “I” tells us she’s in it with us. She’s taking ownership. Her use of “you” makes the audience feel a connection with her, even though we’re watching from home. Toward the end, she switches from singular to collective pronouns, signaling that she’s just like us, and we’re in it together. She’s in charge, yet she’s made us feel like the heroes. “There are everyday heroes everywhere. We know that not all heroes wear capes. You’re heroic when you stay at home and watch your neighbor who’s a nurse’s child. I know you’re all donning those capes in big ways and small ways. Please help us. Thank you.” Ohioans were inspired. Not just to stay at home, but to spread her messages to each other. Another theme of Dr. Acton’s briefings is brutal honesty. And to understand this one, we have to take you back to mid-April. People were getting restless, wondering when things would get back to normal. “So I do hope no one at home thinks like, it’s wide open, May 1, going back to life as normal. The rules have changed, and they’re not going to be quite the same. Life will be different for quite some time to come, and maybe in some ways that are permanent.” She’s preparing us for the long haul, even if it’s not what we want to hear. “It’s really hard to hear that, but we are not going back to six months ago. That’s not the reality we all face.” This is something she does a lot, actually. Setting up bad news with a warning. “Ohioans, you know, I know that’s hard to take. I know that’s a hard truth for people, because we want there to be a right answer and a right way. And I know this is a deep breath we all must take.” Dr. Acton is also honest about what she doesn’t know. “We have to be very clear and transparent with you. All of these numbers are a gross underestimation, and we have no real idea of the prevalence of this infection yet.” A lot of leaders just avoid talking about uncertainty. But when Dr. Acton repeatedly says, “We don’t know.” It’s actually calming to hear her admit what we all feel deep down, that we just don’t have the full story. And finally, Dr. Acton sees vulnerability as a strength. After watching dozens of hours of briefings, there was one word we kept hearing over and over. “Please just acknowledge and give a name to what you’re going through. Acknowledge it with each other. And so I just want to acknowledge that these are still really tough times. This is wearing on all of us, and I just want to acknowledge that. I just want to acknowledge that all of us are feeling this. It’s such an unprecedented time.” Hearing Dr. Acton acknowledge our harder emotions forces us to face them head on. Stuffing down fear and sadness just causes more stress, and may make us act more selfishly instead of empathizing with each other. “And you’ll have days when you’re anxious. But don’t kill yourself over that. Please know and forgive yourself and try again.” And take a look at what she does here. “Every day I go through stages of grief. I go through, you know, denial. I go through a little anger. I go through a little bargaining. I don’t have to wear this. I might not need it. This isn’t true. I get a little down.” When she tells us she’s struggling too, we feel seen, and heard and less alone. And maybe that’s all any of us want right now. In a pandemic, the words our leaders choose can save lives. As of the end of April, Ohio had recorded fewer than 1,000 Covid deaths. By comparison, neighboring Michigan suffered more than 3,000, even though Ohio has a bigger population and had its first case three weeks earlier. Of course, other factors help explain this. But Dr. Acton convinced millions of Ohioans to stay at home. Not by ordering them, but by inspiring them. “People at home, you are moving mountains. You are saving lives. Again, I get emotional talking about this, because this is no small thing that we are doing together. It is so incredibly hard to have shut down our lives the way we have. I am absolutely certain you will look back and know that you helped save each other in this state. The impact is profound. Please, at home, don’t stop.”

What is your reaction to the video? Does it make a convincing case for Dr. Acton’s leadership? Do you agree that a good leader empowers listeners and makes them feel like “we’re in it together”? How important is it for leaders to be brutally honest? Should more leaders see “vulnerability as a strength,” as Dr. Acton does?

In “ In a Crisis, True Leaders Stand Out ,” the Times Editorial Board writes:

Leadership may be hard to define, but in times of crisis it is easy to identify. As the pandemic has spread fear, disease and death, national leaders across the globe have been severely tested. Some have fallen short, sometimes dismally, but there are also those leaders who have risen to the moment, demonstrating resolve, courage, empathy, respect for science and elemental decency, and thereby dulling the impact of the disease on their people. The master class on how to respond belongs to Jacinda Ardern, the 39-year-old prime minister of New Zealand. On March 21, when New Zealand still had only 52 confirmed cases, she told her fellow citizens what guidelines the government would follow in ramping up its response. Her message was clear: “These decisions will place the most significant restrictions on New Zealanders’ movements in modern history. But it is our best chance to slow the virus and to save lives.” And it was compassionate: “Please be strong, be kind and united against Covid-19.” Ms. Ardern, a liberal, then joined with the conservative prime minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, in shaping a joint effort that has all but eliminated the virus from their island nations. Other examples of countries where swift and decisive action helped allay the impact of the disease and unite the nation range from South Korea and Taiwan in Asia to Germany, Greece and Iceland in Europe. Women, a minority among the national leaders of the world, emerged among the most effective and reassuring of them. Like Ms. Ardern, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany acted early and calmly, warning Germans that many of them would fall prey to the novel coronavirus, and quickly getting testing underway. President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan likewise responded at the first sign of the new danger, keeping the virus under control and enabling her to send millions of face masks to the United States and Europe. In Iceland, Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir led the government in offering free coronavirus testing for all and organizing a thorough tracking system. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark, Finland’s prime minister, Sanna Marin — at 34 among the youngest of the world’s leaders — and Norway’s prime minister, Erna Solberg, are other women who have earned plaudits at home and abroad for their handling of the crisis.

The editorial continues:

That said, the leaders who have gained the respect and attention of their people, and who have succeeded in dulling the impact of the disease, share certain traits and approaches to leadership worth noting as this pandemic roars on — and for future crises as well. A willingness to take quick and bold action, even when it carries political risk, is surely among the most important hallmarks of leadership in a crisis. It is now obvious that China’s efforts to conceal the outbreak, or President Trump’s to downplay it for far too long, proved disastrous. Ms. Ardern, by contrast, chose, as she put it, to “go hard and go early.” Other elements of effective leadership include a respect for science, transparent messaging, constant updating of the evidence and prompt assurance of financial support. And also experience: Ms. Merkel’s background as a scientist is by all accounts a major factor in her credibility; in Ireland, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s background as a doctor prompted him to start giving phone consultations half a day each week and helped boost his previously flagging standing. Beyond politics, economics and science lie qualities of character that can’t be faked, chiefly compassion, which may be the most important in reassuring a frightened, insecure and stricken population. Ms. Merkel is arguably among the least flashy, charismatic or eloquent of Europe’s leaders, but nobody would ever question her decency. When she addressed her nation on television, something she does rarely and with evident reluctance, there was nothing pompous or bombastic in her parting words: “Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones.”

Students, read the entire editorial, then tell us:

In your opinion, what makes a person a great leader? Which qualities of leadership described in the video and the editorial do you most value?

What role should leaders, in government and elsewhere, play during a crisis like this one? Which leaders — local or global, famous or not — do you think have most effectively risen to challenges of the pandemic?

What qualities of good leaders do you possess? Tell us about an experience you’ve had as a leader. What did you learn? What mistakes did you make? What life lessons might you be able to give to others as a result? Are there ways that you can use or develop your leadership skills now?

The Times editorial notes that many of the most effective national leaders during this crisis are women. What is your reaction? Are you surprised?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Jeremy Engle joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2018 after spending more than 20 years as a classroom humanities and documentary-making teacher, professional developer and curriculum designer working with students and teachers across the country. More about Jeremy Engle

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6 Characteristics of an Effective Leader

• 04 Oct 2018

Although there isn’t a single right way to effectively lead a team, there are several characteristics common among successful leaders and managers you should consider when developing your leadership skills .

Incorporating these abilities into your professional development can enable you to make difficult decisions, align your organization on common goals, and lead your team to success.

Why Effective Leadership Is Important in Business

Ineffective leadership can cost companies more than just morale. According to research from Gallup , 24 percent of employees are actively disengaged as a result of poor management, leading to teams that are less productive, less profitable, and more likely to cause turnover. And that turnover adds up quick: translating into nearly two times the annual salary of every employee who quits.

That’s why effective leadership skills are important. In order to retain employees, satisfy customers, and improve company productivity, you need people who can effectively communicate the company’s vision, guide teams, and influence change.

If you aspire to be that person, here's how you can become a more effective leader.

Access your free e-book today.

Characteristics of an Effective Leader

1. ability to influence others.

“[Leadership] is all about influencing people,” said Kirstin Lynde, founder of leadership development firm Catalyze Associates, in a Facebook Live interview .

Early in your career, you might exercise authority by being the go-to person on a certain subject within your organization, or by actively listening and building consensus among your team. As you advance, you may exert influence by knowing how to articulate the direction you think the company should head in next.

According to the online course Power and Influence for Positive Impact , influence is “the ability to produce effects on other people’s behavior.” Influencing others requires building a strong sense of trust with your colleagues.

“This means [you] need to understand the types of resources people value when it comes to achieving safety and self-esteem,” says Harvard Business School Professor Julie Battilana in her course Power and Influence for Positive Impact .

Focus on understanding their motivations and encourage them to share their opinions. You can use that knowledge to make change and show their voice matters.

2. Transparency—to an Extent

Part of building trust is being transparent. The more open you are about the organization’s goals and challenges, the easier it is for employees to understand their role and how they can individually contribute to the company’s overall success. That sense of value and purpose translates into higher levels of employee engagement .

“To get people on board, they need to grasp what you’re conveying so they’re excited to join you in turning that direction into a reality,” says HBS Professor Anthony Mayo in the online course Organizational Leadership . “Your communication should meet people where they are, give them a sense of where the organization is going, and then give them a roadmap for how they can bridge the gap from where the organization is now to where you want to take it.”

While transparency is often intended to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and accountability, too much of it can have the opposite effect, according to Ethan Bernstein, an associate professor of organizational behavior at HBS.

“Wide-open workspaces and copious real-time data on how individuals spend their time can leave employees feeling exposed and vulnerable,” writes Bernstein in the Harvard Business Review . “Being observed changes their conduct. They start going to great lengths to keep what they’re doing under wraps, even if they have nothing bad to hide.”

Bernstein encourages balancing transparency with privacy and setting different types of boundaries to still foster experimentation and collaboration.

3. Encourage Risk-Taking and Innovation

Experimentation is critical to establishing and maintaining your company’s competitive advantage. Great leaders recognize this and encourage risk-taking and innovation within their organization.

“You can’t wave a wand, dictate to people that they need to be more creative, and wake up the next day to find people taking risks and trying new things,” Mayo says in Organizational Leadership .

Instead, leaders must actively foster a culture of innovation by supporting experimentation, challenging unwritten rules, and embracing mistakes. These steps, backed by data, can yield innovations that wouldn’t have otherwise surfaced.

By creating a culture that embraces failure and experimentation, employees are more emboldened to test theories or propose new ideas, because they see that creativity is valued. For example, Google’s innovation lab, X, offered bonuses to each team member who worked on a project the company ultimately decided to kill as soon as evidence suggested it wouldn’t scale, in an effort to “make it safe to fail.”

After all, big breakthroughs don’t happen when companies play it safe; experimentation is needed to reach lofty business goals. If well-intentioned, failures often become valuable lessons.

Related: How to Be an Effective Leader at Any Stage of Your Career

4. Integrity and Accountability

One of the most important aspects of leadership is demonstrating integrity. In a survey by consulting firm Robert Half , 75 percent of employees ranked “integrity” as the most important attribute of a leader. In a separate survey by Sunnie Giles , creator of Quantum Leadership, 67 percent of respondents ranked “high moral standards” as the most important leadership competency. Yet, it can be easy for leaders to deprioritize integrity when faced with organizational power. The ability to balance power and accountability can set successful leaders apart from ineffective ones.

“It’s precisely these two levers—sharing power and accountability—that enable workplaces and societies to keep power in check,” Battilana says in Power and Influence for Positive Impact .

Employees want to know that their manager will advocate for them, treat them fairly, and, ultimately, do what’s right for the business. As a leader, it’s important to not only avoid the consolidation of power but also any decision-making that could negatively affect others. Doing so can foster trust within your team and model behavior for others in the organization. The culmination of these factors can help you build a successful team.

5. Act Decisively

In today’s fast-changing, complex business environment, effective leaders need to make strategic decisions quickly—even before any definitive information is available.

Once you make a choice, stick with it, unless there’s a compelling reason to shift focus. Your goal is to move the organization forward, but that won’t happen if you can’t make a decision without wavering.

While timely decision-making is essential for any effective leader, it’s important to remember that decision-making is a process.

“The majority of people think about making decisions as an event,” says HBS Professor Len Schlesinger in the online course Management Essentials . “It’s very rare to find a single point in time where a ‘decision of significance’ is made and things go forward from there. What we’re really talking about is a process. The role of the manager in overseeing that process is straightforward, yet, at the same time, extraordinarily complex.”

By acting decisively, continuously evaluating, and pivoting when necessary, you can lead your organization through the ever-changing business landscape.

6. Demonstrate Resilience

Every decision you make won’t result in success. There will be times when you’re met with failure; it’s your job as a leader to exercise resiliency.

Consider the example of Antarctic explorer Ernest Schackleton presented in HBS Online’s sample business lesson on resilient leadership , led by HBS Professor Nancy Koehn.

When Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, was trapped and crushed by icebergs, the original mission—traversing Antarctica—suddenly became irrelevant. The new mission was to get his team of 28 men home alive. To do so, he needed to quickly lead his team through crisis.

The lesson outlines three key components of Shackleton’s approach that all leaders can learn from when facing major challenges:

• Continuously assess and reassess your leadership approach
• Commit to your primary objective while exercising flexibility
• Maintain belief in the team’s mission by managing collective and individual energies

Effective leaders don’t avoid hard truths or difficult challenges. Instead, they take responsibility for their decisions, maintain optimism, and focus on charting a new course of action. They also help others cope with organizational change and address issues quickly, so that problems don’t fester and escalate.

Assessing Your Strengths

Becoming an effective leader doesn’t happen overnight. It’s an iterative process and requires you to assess your strengths and evaluate who you are as a communicator and collaborator.

“In many cases, it’s your strong performance as an individual contributor that lays the foundation for your leadership roles,” says Mayo in the course Leadership Principles . “But what got you there won’t get you to the next level. As you shift from doing the work yourself to creating the conditions in which others excel, your identity is less about your individual accomplishments and tasks and more about the collective work of the group.”

With that shift in mind, you can take action to develop your leadership style and become the type of leader your organization needs.

Do you want to enhance your leadership skills? Download our free leadership e-book and explore our flowchart to see which online leadership and management course can help you become a more effective leader and unleash the potential in yourself and others.

This post was updated on February 17, 2023. It was originally published on October 4, 2018.

About the Author

Top 11 Qualities Of A Good Leader

Think about some of the most influential leaders in your life. They could be family members, mentors, co-workers, celebrities or even historical figures. What makes them stand out as a leader? You may notice there is probably not one trait or feature shared by all the examples that come to mind.  

That’s because there is no one perfect formula for a perfect leader. Good leaders come in all shapes and sizes and use a variety of leadership skills, theories and techniques. 

While the answer to good leadership may not be straightforward, that’s not necessarily a negative! Given that successful leadership comes in many forms, this allows for everyone to become successful leaders in their respective organizations and projects. 

In this blog post, we will cover the top 11 different leadership qualities possessed by good leaders across a variety of industries, including insights from leaders in our faculty, student and alumni networks.  

What is Leadership? 

Before describing what makes a good leader, it may be helpful start with a definition of leadership. 

If only it were that easy. 

There are as many definitions of leadership as there are people who have defined it.  

According to Bill Gates, "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others." 

American scholar Warren Bennis said that “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."   

Aristotle once said, "He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader." 

While we do not have one set definition for leadership, the examples above paint a leader as someone who has a strong strategic vision and goal, knows how to motivate and mobilize people around that goal and knows when to listen and follow others who bring their own skills and qualities to the table. 

What are the Most Important Leadership Qualities? 

Empathy is the ability to understand and feel what someone else is going through—the ability to put oneself in the shoes of another.  

In the workforce, this can relate to understanding where employees are coming from and to work with them to ensure they best fit the position they are trying to fill. This will help you to best match a person’s strengths with the needs of the organization.  

“As a manager, you should try to understand your team and learn what everyone is capable of and make sure that everybody is trained in all aspects of the job,” says Maria Verdin Frieden ’88 (Operations Management) ’90 BBA, a freelance transcriptionist. 

Being empathetic can also help a leader to gain the trust of followers. Embracing others’ strengths and flaws and acknowledging that we, even the leader, are all imperfect can help motivate individuals and encourage them to do their best—or even have the courage to fail—because they know they will have support from their leader. 

“As a leader, it’s important to make sure we create an environment of being valued. This environment can be created by leaders listening to team members and being empathetic towards the efforts of every individual in the team,” says Aishwarya Raghunath ’20 MS MIS, program manager for ServiceNow. 

Confidence 

Good leaders are confident in their actions and goals and speak courageously, which helps followers to rally around a goal.  

According to  recent research  from  Elizabeth McClean , assistant professor of management and organizations at Eller, this is especially important for women.  

“Women have traditionally been told not to be assertive,” says McClean “but my research shows that when suggesting ideas for change, women who speak up agentically—for example, suggesting changes to work tasks and using confident language—got their ideas endorsed more than those who spoke up in a tentative manner.” 

Creativity 

A good leader understands that a level of creativity is needed for effective problem solving. When beginning a brainstorming session, it is important to create an environment where all ideas are appreciated and valued, even the silly or crazy ones. Some of the best solutions and products can come from an idea that initially seems outrageous.  

Creative leaders are not afraid to make waves and look at a problem from an untraditional perspective.  

Accountability 

Accountability is the ability to follow through on commitments and take ownership of successes and failures. A good leader who exemplifies accountability can inspire followers to take similar accountability for their actions. 

“A good leader holds you accountable to be better—to be the best you can be while maintaining empathy and compassion when needed. A good leader holds themselves and others accountable to the same standards,” says  Rachel Calvert Young  ’10 BSBA (Management), human resources manager at Northrup Grumman. 

Transparency 

Transparency is the ability to openly share information with others and is generally associated with openness, communication and accountability. This can help followers to have a better understanding of what their leader is trying to achieve and can help them take ownership in those efforts.  

According to  Heather Molina  ’23 MBA: “The more context and information you can share about the 'why' on something helps others buy into the mission, objective, strategy and/or tactic.” 

Delegation 

While good leaders possess accountability and follow through on their own tasks, they also know when to tap into the skills and strengths of others. This quality requires the leader to trust the ability of their followers to work on their behalf and produce quality outcomes.  

By delegating work to others and being humble enough to understand that others may be able to perform a task better, the leader is able to focus their time on other responsibilities and the team will be able to reach their goal quicker. 

Compassion 

Compassion is the ability to feel sympathy for others, often in times of need. While empathy is about creating an environment where all are valued, compassion is action-oriented—helping others overcome obstacles in a way that benefits the individual in need while still helping them accomplish the goals in place.  

“The job, although very important, does not define who I am as a human being. I carry the ups and downs of life. Although I do try to separate my personal life from my professional, it's hard when I'm going through a difficult stage in life,” says  Fernanda Bueno  ’18 MS (Marketing), product marketing analyst at PeacockTV. 

As Bueno describes, issues in one’s personal life can affect their professional life and ability to complete tasks. Good leaders acknowledge this and make adjustments to their plans and expectations to ensure that those around them are taken care of.  

Humility 

To have humility means to not be too assertive or arrogant—to be humble. Good leaders who practice humility give credit where it is due and celebrate the successes of others, instead of celebrating just their own.  

According to  Scott Gossett  ’97 BSBA (MIS), CEO of Clutch Solutions, “a good leader will never build anything if they are focused on themselves and not on the wellbeing of their team.” 

Grit is the perseverance and passion needed to reach a long-term goal, despite all obstacles. Good leaders know that the path to success is anything but easy and linear and they are up for the challenge.  

Connor Arendts  ’17 BSBA (MIS), account executive at Sisense, has experienced the importance of grit in his career in software sales. His advice: “Understand your long-term goals and define a plan to get there efficiently.” 

Vision 

Visionary leaders are able to look at a problem from a “bird’s eye view” and develop paths to find a solution. They help others to stay focused on the goal and can pivot and re-center a team when things don’t go as planned. 

In order to gain or strengthen this quality, practice problem solving both at a personal and organizational level. This skill will come with time and experience in both failing and succeeding.  

Integrity 

With all of these in mind, there is one final quality to remember—integrity, which is described as the quality of having strong moral values and honesty. As Karl Eller, our namesake, once said: “Make absolute integrity the compass that guides you in everything you do.  And surround yourself only with people of flawless integrity. Integrity is all you’ve got.” 

What are leadership qualities? 

Leadership qualities are a set of traits that a leader has that helps them to succeed in their role, such as the ones listed in this article. Leadership qualities can range from interpersonal skills—such as compassion and empathy or organizational skills—like vision and grit. These qualities can either come naturally or be learned over time.  

How do I develop leadership qualities? 

Practice is the best way to develop leadership qualities. Though it may seem counterintuitive, using a leadership skill and then failing will help the most. By learning from the failure and adapting to ensure it doesn’t happen again, you will learn how to harness the power of each leadership skill. A great way to build leadership skills is to become an active member of committees, organizations, sports teams or clubs that relate to things you are passionate about.  

Why are leadership qualities important? 

Leadership qualities are important because they help a leader to motivate and empower their followers and reach their goals. Without strong leadership qualities, a leader may lose the support of their followers.  

What are examples of leadership? 

Leadership can be found in many forms, including managing a work team, leading an organization, running a business, running a campaign, coaching a sports team, managing volunteers or even setting and managing progress towards personal goals.  

Developing the skills to become a good leader takes time and practice! Many of the skills listed above are integrated into the curriculum of our graduate business programs. We’re here to help you transform your life—wherever your path leads—so you can transform lives in your industry, your community and even the world.  Find the right grad program for you.

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What Makes A Good Leader: Essay Hints

Table of Contents

In this essay, you need to discuss the essential qualities needed for becoming an effective leader. In fact, different situations require different types of leadership styles, so it may be hard to choose the qualities that define good leaders admired by people from bad ones.

Besides, there are common misconceptions about their role. In this article, we will try to answer the question of “what makes a good leader essay” and give you some recommendations about the aspects you should focus on.

Essay structure and key points to cover

Wondering what the best way to approach an essay on leadership qualities is? Leadership essays can be written in the expository style and structured to include different subtopics:

• Discussion of major leadership theories.
• Personality traits defining great leaders.
• Leadership styles and how they work.
• Leadership principles and core values.
• Examples of leaders in different spheres of society.
• People you consider to be leaders in your life.
• Leadership skills you have.

It’s important to demonstrate an original personal understanding of leadership concept and provide impressive illustrative examples taken from today’s real life or history. That’s the best thing to do when reviewing various leadership qualities.

What are the qualities of a good leader: essay ideas

When we take an in-depth look at history, we see countless leadership qualities that were adopted by both good and bad leaders. When writing what are the qualities of a good leader essay, you should focus on the characteristics and strengths of a leader, and how they help influence and motivate other people along with achieving own goals.

These are emotional and behavioral characteristics of well-known leaders that helped them succeed:

• Vision – effective leaders have exciting ideas, they usually are forward-looking, and have excellent strategic planning skills.
• Communication – communicating ideas clearly and concisely is essential to ensure teamwork towards the same goal.
• Integrity – they are honest and can always tell the truth in any situation.
• Confidence – they dare to take risks to achieve their goals and never give up.
• Responsiveness – good leaders value their team, listen to people they lead, and quickly change their behavior to match different situations.
• Determination – good leaders are passionate about what they do and can motivate people by demonstrating their own commitment.
• Empathy is the most important skill which allows to create strong bonds of trust and build successful teams.

Tips on writing a winning essay on leadership

When working on what makes a good leader essay, students should follow certain basic steps.

• Research relevant sources on the internet to get a better understanding of the concept, read a lot, and make notes of interesting ideas which can be used in your paper.
• Brainstorm ideas to write about, formulate a strong thesis statement and create a detailed working outline. Organize information in a logical order.
• Start writing a draft with an introduction. Engage readers with a hook – provocative question, anecdote, stunning fact, convincing statistics. Introduce a subject, providing relevant background information. End introductory paragraph with a specific thesis that sums up your ideas.
• Devote separate body paragraphs to specific points supporting the main argument. Begin paragraphs with topic sentences, presenting key points, give detailed explanations, and provide additional evidence and examples. Include appropriate citations with proper referencing. Sum up and demonstrate how each paragraph contributes to the logical argument.
• Create a convincing conclusion to wrap up the paper’s key points.
• Revise the first draft , make improvements in content, logic, and sentence structure. Edit to improve word choice and clarity.
• Proofread the final version – fix minor errors and typos. Create references list and check the formatting of the entire paper.

The use of a leadership essay sample

Still not sure that you can write a good leader essay that will impress your readers? Read biographies of famous people who played crucial roles in human history, created big successful businesses, managed large corporations to learn which qualities contributed to their success.

Besides, you may want to check out some good paper examples.

Find out how powerful papers on this topic are structured and what interesting points they cover. Use essay samples as templates or models to follow.

See this short sample paragraph which discusses one of the leadership qualities for inspiration.

Empathy, an ability to recognize other’s feelings and perspectives and understand other people’s needs is crucial in leadership. Being empathetic means you can step into another person’s world and this character trait is essential for success due to several reasons. It’s impossible to effectively lead people you don’t understand. You can effectively motivate and influence someone if you know their feelings. Empathy is one of the keys to successful leadership because it helps build relationships with people they lead and create an environment of open communication. Luckily, empathy is natural for humans and we can even learn to be more empathetic and demonstrate this ability to people around us.

No time to write your essay on leadership? We’ve got plenty of time here! Our writers strive to help you out. Click the button faster and get yourself a perfect essay with no struggle!

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Leadership Essay

27 August, 2020

12 minutes read

Author:  Richard Pircher

As a college student, you must write essays on a regular basis since the latter is one of the most common types of home assignments. All this means is that in order to get good grades and be successful with writing the papers, you need to have a sound understanding of the structure. Additionally, what you should never neglect is the variety of essay types. Indeed, your essay will significantly differ from one type to another: description essay will most likely have a structure that is slightly different from an argumentative one.

What you may have already encountered in your academic life is the work on a leadership essay. Although it sounds pretty complicated and vague, it is mostly possible to master an essay on leadership. Below is a guide for you to get an insight into this particular essay type.

What is a good leadership essay?

A good leadership essay is the one in which the essay writer has fully covered the topic of leadership and understood its core ideas. More specifically, to end up with a flawless leadership essay, you will need to indicate what makes a person a good leader. For achieving the latter, you will most likely need to conduct research and trace how a particular person reaches his or her goals. In other words, the task is to discover which actions the person undertakes, what their followers say about him or her, and how the person organizes the work. So, a leadership essay implies providing real-life success examples and further revealing them.

Above all, a good leadership essay is the one that follows a precise, clear, comprehensive structure. Structuring your essay about leadership in the most coherent way leads to a win-win situation: you have fewer troubles and barriers to writing a brilliant essay, and your teacher is able to comprehend the essay easily. This guide is what you will need to refer to to get an insight into how the flawless structure for a leadership essay looks like and how it will let you take a benefit.

How to write a Leadership essay?

To write a leadership essay that stands out, you first need to brainstorm all the ideas that you have and come up with a topic for your essay. If you are struggling with this step, you may think of some of the most influential people, read about them, and find out what makes them unique. Or, you can pick any topic which is mentioned at the end of this article. After you have chosen an issue, it is time to structure your essay appropriately.

As you already know, an essay constitutes three essential sections: introduction, main body, and conclusion. Below is the more detailed description of each of the parts.

Introduction

Of course, your leadership essay introduction will always vary depending on the topic of the essay. However, you can always begin by stating your vision of leadership regardless of the topic. Additionally, to motivate the reader and instantly catch his or her attention, you may use a quote of a famous leader, or simply a quote which you find relevant to the topic. Be aware that you should avoid outlining the essence and the role of the leadership in your introduction; leave it for the body paragraphs.

What you may also do in your leadership essay is ask a question, which will most likely intrigue the leader. Or it will at least give your reader an overview of what you will dwell on  in your essay.

Body Paragraphs

You will need to divide the main body into 3-5 paragraphs to make the structure more comprehensive. What you have to do at this point  is  give your reader a sound understanding of your ideas. Therefore, try to fit each idea in a single body paragraph so that you do not confuse your reader. Do not hesitate to indicate your examples to strengthen your arguments. For instance, you may explain a fact that makes a particular person you are writing about a real leader.

Also, always stick to your thesis statement and don’t forget that the body paragraphs should reveal the parts of your thesis statement.

As you may already know, you need to restate your opinion and briefly summarize all the points from the main body in conclusion. For instance, if you wrote your essay on qualities of an effective leader, state the most fundamental qualities and indicate why they matter the most. Besides, try not to copy what you have already written in the body – it is better to restate your opinion using different words. And, of course, beware adding any new and extra information; indicate only those points that you have already outlined in the text. Finally, keep in mind that it is always favorable to keep your concluding remarks short.

Leadership Essay Examples

Writing a leadership essay requires some research and time. In case you feel the necessity to go through an essay example, below is a leadership essay sample you can refer to.

Is leadership an inborn or an acquired feature?

Is everyone capable of becoming a leader, or is this ability innate? A lot of researchers have been struggling to answer this question. One assumption about leadership implies that the leader is the person who possesses particular characteristics. Another assumption claims that leaders are capable of acquiring specific features over their life span. As the evidence shows, leaders own many features that distinguish them among others and make more and more people become their followers. These might be cognitive abilities, psychological traits, professional qualities, and a lot more, and all of them will be either acquired or innate. Based on the importance of leadership qualities, such as commitment, stress resistance, and the ability to make quality decisions, it is reasonable to claim that leaders are made, not born. 

One can deem commitment as one of the top fundamental qualities of the leader. In essence, such a feature indicates that a person is passionate about the common goal, strives to be a team player, and makes every effort to reach a shared goal. As the history shows, none of the successful companies was uncoordinated by an influential, committed leader: Apple, Amazon, Microsoft – all of these companies are examples of dominant teams led by a dedicated leader. A committed leader also inspires his or her team to achieve common goals and put more effort into the shared activity. Besides, commitment is unlikely to be an innate feature; it instead comes with experience. This is so, since commitment implies dedicating oneself to the shared task, and one can reach it only via learning and continuous self-improvement.

Stress resistance is another incredibly important feature that every good leader should possess. This is because only a stress-resistant leader has sufficient capabilities to overcome any complexity and not let the anxiety and stress prevent him or her from making proper decisions. Besides, such a leader will most likely have a positive influence on the team, as long as leading by example will motivate the team members to attain the same emotional stability. What is so far familiar about stress resistance as an effective leader’s feature is that it can be either innate or attained. However, although some researchers admit that emotional stability is something one is born with, it is not entirely true; many people still put a great effort into self-improvement, changing the attitude to unfortunate situations, and so on. Therefore, being resistant to stress can be mostly attributed to a personality.

An ability to make high-quality decisions most likely determines the chances for an enterprise’s success. In particular, such quality is incredibly fundamental for a company of any size and professional orientation. Additionally, it is one of the top tasks of a good leader to make final decisions. What he or she should do implies brainstorming, discussing various opinions in the group, making forecasts, analyzing all the pros and cons. However, the leader is the one to make a final decision. Thereby, he is in charge of researching the market, discovering all the hidden truths, and analyzing the organization’s potential and capabilities to result in the most effective decision. As it flows logically from the latter, an ability to make sound quality decisions is purely a professional quality. This leads to the conclusion that one has to work hard to become a genuine leader and master the skill of making effective decisions. 

Overall, the leader may possess a multitude of different skills and master them perfectly. However, what has so far become transparent is that any leader, regardless of which team he leads, must possess three essential qualities. These qualities are commitment to the common goal, ability to handle and resist stress, and, finally, an ability to make effective decisions. All of the three qualities are most likely to be acquired over a lifetime. The statement below leads to the conclusion that even though some qualities can be innate, most are not the ones that leaders are born with. Hence, this answers an essential question: leadership feature is acquired, and not necessarily inborn.  

20 leadership essay topics

When coming up with your next leadership essay topic, it is imperative to brainstorm ideas and think of what leadership might be related to. If you are struggling with a topic of the importance of leadership essay or any relevant type of essay, you may quickly take a look at some of the possible topics we prepared for you:

• What are the main qualities of the leader?
• Successful Time Management as a feature of an effective leader
• The role that rhetoric plays in leadership
• The most exceptional leader in the history of the 20-th century
• The role of female leadership
• What are the challenges of the leader of the 21-st century?
• How college helps students develop leadership skills?
• Qualities of the leader that motivate people to follow them 
• Top things to avoid doing to become a team leader
• Examples of effective and ineffective leadership in the history
• Top techniques for developing leadership skills
• The interconnection of creativity and leadership 
• Is a university’s role fundamental in developing leadership skills?
• Dictatorship as an anti-example of leadership
• Liberal vs Authoritative leadership: which one works better?
• The influence of the leader’s role model on the followers’ mindset
• Main difficulties that the new leader may face in a new team
• Leadership of today vs leadership of the past: what has changed?
• Reasons why I want to become a member if the leadership program
• The role of cognitive abilities for the leader 

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Essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader

Students are often asked to write an essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader

Introduction.

A good leader is crucial for any successful team or organization. Several qualities define a good leader, such as honesty, confidence, and the ability to delegate.

Honesty is a key quality of a good leader. They should always be truthful and transparent with their team, fostering an environment of trust.

Confidence is another important quality. A confident leader inspires others, boosting the team’s morale and encouraging them to give their best.

A good leader knows how to delegate tasks effectively. They trust their team members and assign tasks based on their skills and strengths.

In conclusion, a good leader is honest, confident, and knows how to delegate. These qualities help to create a successful team.

250 Words Essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader

Leadership is a dynamic blend of various traits and skills. The qualities of a good leader are multifaceted, ranging from interpersonal skills to strategic thinking.

Emotional Intelligence

A good leader possesses high emotional intelligence, which includes empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to manage emotions. This allows them to understand and respond to the needs and feelings of their team, fostering a supportive and productive work environment.

Decisiveness and Vision

Leaders must be decisive, making informed decisions swiftly. Coupled with decisiveness, a compelling vision is essential. A leader who provides a clear, inspiring, and shared vision can effectively guide their team towards achieving common goals.

Integrity is a cornerstone of effective leadership. Leaders with integrity inspire trust, promoting a culture of honesty and accountability. They uphold ethical standards, setting a positive example for their team.

Adaptability

The ability to adapt to changing circumstances is crucial. A good leader is flexible, open to new ideas, and capable of navigating uncertainty. They are not rigid, but rather evolve with the changing needs of their team and organization.

In essence, a good leader is emotionally intelligent, decisive, visionary, integrity-driven, and adaptable. These qualities allow them to inspire and guide their team, fostering an environment of collaboration, innovation, and success. While these traits are not exhaustive, they provide a comprehensive framework for effective leadership.

500 Words Essay on What Are the Qualities of a Good Leader

Leadership is a multifaceted concept that has been studied and analyzed extensively. A good leader is not defined by a single quality, but by a combination of several attributes that enable them to guide, inspire, and influence others effectively. Understanding these qualities can help individuals develop their leadership skills and contribute to their teams, organizations, or societies more effectively.

One of the most important qualities of a good leader is emotional intelligence. This involves the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Leaders with high emotional intelligence can empathize with their team members, which helps in building trust and fostering a positive working environment. They are also better equipped to handle stress, conflict, and change.

Integrity is another crucial quality of a good leader. Leaders with integrity adhere to a set of ethical principles, which guides their decisions and actions. They are honest, transparent, and consistent, which earns them the respect and trust of their followers. Integrity also involves taking responsibility for one’s actions and being accountable for the outcomes, whether they are successful or not.

Good leaders are visionary. They have a clear, inspiring, and ambitious vision for the future. They are able to articulate this vision in a way that is compelling and engaging, inspiring others to share in it. Visionary leaders are also strategic thinkers, able to anticipate future challenges and opportunities, and plan accordingly.

Resilience is a key quality of a good leader. The path to success is often fraught with setbacks and failures. Resilient leaders are able to navigate these challenges with grace and tenacity, learning from their mistakes and using them as opportunities for growth. They also help their team members to develop resilience, fostering a culture of perseverance and adaptability.

Communication Skills

Effective communication is a fundamental quality of a good leader. Leaders must be able to convey their ideas and expectations clearly and persuasively. They must also be good listeners, open to feedback and different perspectives. Good communication fosters understanding, collaboration, and mutual respect within a team.

In conclusion, the qualities of a good leader are diverse and interconnected. Emotional intelligence, integrity, visionary thinking, resilience, and effective communication are all crucial. However, it is important to note that leadership is not a static concept. It evolves with time and context, and so too should our understanding of what makes a good leader. As future leaders, it is our responsibility to continually develop these qualities within ourselves and strive to embody them in our actions and interactions.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Leadership Qualities
• Essay on Qualities of a True Leader
• Essay on Importance of Healthy Eating Habits

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The magazine of Glion Institute of Higher Education

• 10 qualities of an effective leader: unlock your leadership potential

Effective leadership is much more than simply giving orders. It’s about nurturing the potential of your team, inspiring trust, and making smart decisions. Looking at what defines the qualities of an effective leader could be a game-changer for those aspiring to improve their leadership skills or even for established leaders seeking to refine their capabilities. Let’s examine the characteristics that distinguish strong leaders from the rest. Well also look at how you can learn effective leadership styles for management careers in hospitality .

Why Is effective leadership important?

Effective leadership is of vital importance because it serves as the driving force behind the success and growth of organizations in virtually every sector. A skilled leader inspires, motivates, and guides their team towards achieving shared goals and objectives. They foster a positive work environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and productivity.

Moreover, effective leaders make well-informed decisions, navigate challenges adeptly, and adapt to changing circumstances, ensuring the sustainability and resilience of their organizations. They also play a crucial role in shaping an organization’s culture, setting the tone for ethical behavior, and promoting inclusivity and diversity. Leadership is a vital element of any high-level career, whether that’s running a boutique hotel , or working for a luxury hotel brand .

Qualities of an effective leader

To understand the qualities of an effective leader, it is essential to delve into the skills that polish leadership potential. Describing a leader simply as someone at the helm isn’t adequate. There are certain characteristics leaders embody that drive their teams to reach their fullest potential.

1 – Self-awareness

One often overlooked quality in leadership discussions is self-awareness. As a core characteristic of leaders, this trait involves understanding strengths and weaknesses without bias or pretension. According to research from Cornell University, leaders who exhibit high levels of self-awareness tend to perform better and be more respected in organizations.

2 – Credibility

Leading effectively inevitably means demonstrating credibility. Authors Kouzes and Posner, who wrote The Leadership Challenge , define credibility as the degree to which followers perceive their leader as being honest, competent, and inspiring. Establishing faith through words and actions is critical for a leader’s healthy relationship with their team.

3 – Relationship building

Understanding how relationships work within your team might appear simple on the surface, however, it can be one of the more difficult aspects of leadership. Leaders who excel inspire trust through open dialogue. They create bridges between individuals based on shared objectives rather than personal agendas. This requires emotional intelligence, great communication skills, active listening, and a positive outlook.

4 – Bias for action

A distinctive quality among successful leaders is exhibiting a ‘bias for action’. This means making decisions promptly when necessary, even in the absence of complete information.

5 – Humility

Humility also ranks highly among characteristics associated with influential leadership. A humble leader recognizes every team member’s contribution, respects divergent opinions and encourages innovation.

6 – Empowerment of team members

Leadership also encompasses fostering environments where team members feel empowered. One essential part of the leadership role is encouraging team members to learn, improve, make suggestions, and challenge themselves. This helps build stronger teams and boost employee engagement.

7 – Authenticity

Authenticity shines as an indispensable trait for credible leadership. Decades-old research from Harvard Business School underlines its role in generating followers’ loyalty by developing genuine connections built on trust.

8 – Consistency

Being consistent amidst changing circumstances is another vital leadership quality. Demonstrating dependability through steady performance contributes to gaining staff confidence organically while driving productivity.

9 – Role modeling

“Walk the talk” might sound like a cliché, yet it’s one of the best qualities in a leader. Effective leaders often lead by the examples they set, incorporating qualities like vitality, commitment and diligence.

10 – Presence

Lastly, presence is integral when considering traits in effectual business leadership. This influences perception significantly and can determine value in hierarchies if leveraged efficiently.

Learn how to lead a team to success

Combining expert insights from the best in the business and sought-after internships, this degree provides the essential capabilities to be a great leader.

Leadership in different contexts

Every arena of life calls for its own unique blend of leadership traits. While the core tenets remain consistent, the manifestation and application of these aspects of leadership can vary depending on the context, from a workplace to an educational environment, or even a government department.

While most hospitality leadership will happen in the workplace, it can still help to understand these essential leadership traits to become a more well-rounded leader, if you aspire to teach hospitality management, or want to get into planning and directing operations at a high level.

Leadership in the workplace

In business, certain standout characteristics signify great leadership qualities. In all careers with a business degree , you’ll need skills like these:

• Decision-making: Every day is filled with crucial decisions that shape the course of your organization’s success. A hallmark trait of successful business leaders is their ability to make tough choices while ensuring they align with company objectives.
• Effective communication: The right words at the necessary time can motivate team members and boost morale significantly, which is an important skill for leaders.
• Strategic thinking: This helps ensure that teams are working efficiently towards organizational goals.

Leadership in education

An effective leader in an education setting differs slightly from a business setting, and may need more empathy and motivational qualities.

• Empathy: It is key for educators to create a nurturing environment for learners.
• Motivation: Being able to inspire students and ignite passion for learning is one of the best qualities in a leader in an education environment.
• Adaptability: No two students are alike, so working in education means being adaptable.

Leadership in politics and government

Political or governmental roles require people who exhibit integrity, resilience, and charisma, which are all essential in good leaders in this area.

• Integrity: Principled actions are non-negotiable, and leaders need to be transparent, accountable and honest for public trust.
• Resilience: Political spheres often mean challenges, which means leaders must be able to bounce back, learn from mistakes and frequently make difficult decisions.
• Charisma: Charm has always played an essential role in winning over people, and this can be an essential quality when working in politics or government.

Developing leadership qualities

FreshSplash/ E+ via Getty Images

Unlocking your leadership potential starts well before you step foot into a managerial role. It begins with the development of the essential qualities of an effective leader. Even when you are in a leadership position, it’s vital to focus on leadership development to ensure future success. Some people naturally embody these attributes, but even those who don’t can develop them over time. There are three key ways in which you can nurture and enhance these defining characteristics: through self-reflection, mentorship, and networking.

Self reflection

In any leadership journey, self-reflection plays a pivotal role. Foremost among good leaders’ skills is the ability to critically assess their own performance, actions, and decisions. Through consistent self-reflection, you gain greater self-awareness and realize what aspects of leadership need improvement. Devoting time to solitude and introspection allows you to understand your strengths and weaknesses better. Utilizing tools such as journals or coaching apps could provide a platform for identifying patterns in behavior and achieving growth through actionable feedback.

Mentorship is another instrumental tool in the cultivation of qualities needed by a leader. Finding a mentor – someone who embodies great leaders’ qualities that resonate with you – can offer valuable insights based on their experiences. Analyzing their decision-making processes, styles of relationship building and methods for managing adversity, can enhance your leadership skills. A mentor not only provides guidance but also challenges you to venture out of comfort zones to develop your business leadership abilities further.

Networking can provide a range of opportunities for professional development. Engaging with diverse individuals helps shed light on different traits of successful leaders across varied sectors and industries. Identifying effective leaders within your network provides scope for “leadership watching”. This method involves observing standout individuals demonstrating success in their field of expertise. Doing this, you can acquire first-hand knowledge about practical approaches towards problems or strategies during crises.

One of the best ways to improve your leadership potential is to study. Enrolling in a hospitality school can be a transformative experience for enhancing leadership skills. Good institutions provide a unique educational environment that combines practical experience with theoretical knowledge directly relevant to the hospitality industry. Hospitality degrees often emphasize teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving, which are essential skills for leadership in any field. Moreover, they offer opportunities for hands-on experience in real-world settings through hospitality internships , allowing students to practice leadership in a dynamic, customer-focused environment.

Bring out your best

With expert teaching and opportunities for practical experience, networking and mentorship, our Master’s is the ideal platform for developing your leadership potential.

The journey to becoming a good leader is a transformative process that involves building your skills. In this article we’ve covered ten of the most important qualities of an effective leader, including humility, self-awareness, presence, and role modeling. This list can be a vital roadmap for unlocking your leadership potential.

Leadership is not a destination but a continuous pursuit of self-improvement and growth. By fostering a commitment to lifelong learning, you can inspire, motivate, and guide others to achieve greatness, leaving a lasting impact on your teams and organizations.

Start becoming a leader today, by signing up with Glion. Or, look at some of the great hotel industry careers you could prepare for, as well as reasons to work in hospitality .

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Home — Essay Samples — Business — Leadership — Key Qualities Of Good Leader

Key Qualities of Good Leader

• Categories: Communication Skills Leadership

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Published: Jul 15, 2020

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Essay on Leadership: Samples in 100, 200, 300 Words

• Updated on  
• Oct 7, 2023

The concept of leadership has been known to us since ancient times, from Ashoka: The Great to modern-day democratic leaders. Whether it’s politics or business, sports or entertainment, leadership is an essential part of human society, Leadership is the art of inspiring and guiding people towards a common goal. 

Critics might argue that being a leader is just about holding a prestigious position and living a fancy life. That might be 1 in 1000 cases, as leaders across the globe work for the welfare and development of their people and country. Below we have discussed some essays on leadership where the multifaceted roles of this position are highlighted. 

This Blog Includes:

Essay on leadership in 100 words, essay on leadership in 200 words, essay on leadership in 300 words.

Also Read – Essay on Summer Vacation

Leadership involves a set of qualities, values and actions, which are focused on the benefit of people and their country. A person holding the position of a leader plays a pivotal role in every facet of life, influencing the direction and success of organizations, communities, and nations. To become a leader, one must have a clear vision to understand a future state that is better than the present and communicate that vision to their team or followers.

A leader’s actions should be aligned with their words, and they must demonstrate their honesty, transparency and ethical behaviour. Trust is the foundation for any successful leadership, and it is built through consistent ethical conduct. 

Leadership is a complex and multifaceted concept and is an essential part of developing a society or organisation. Leadership can involve various positions and types, from democratic to autocratic, where the leaders inspire and empower their teams, fostering an environment where individuals can thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

Effective leadership involves skilled communicators to can convey ideas, expectations, and feedback clearly and persuasively. They also listen actively to their team’s input and concerns. A great leader empowers a team of professionals by entrusting them with responsibilities and decision-making authority. With the formation of delegates, the power of leadership is divided among different authorities who are responsible for fostering growth and development among team members, making the organization more robust.

Some of the fundamentals of leadership are authenticity, integrity, ethical behaviour, a clear vision and other vital traits. Trust is the bedrock of leadership, and it is built through honesty, transparency, and consistency in actions and decisions. A leader who understands and cares about the needs and concerns of their team fosters strong relationships, promoting collaboration and cohesion.

At last, leadership is more than a title; it’s the embodiment of vision, integrity, empathy, communication and resilience. Effective leaders work to bring positive changes, inspire people around them and create a sense of purpose and direction in their terms and organizations.

Also Read – Essay on Cricket

Leadership is a vital concept for the welfare of a society, community or country, depending on what the leadership is about. A leader transcends boundaries and is fundamental to human endeavours in various domains. Their job involves the ability to influence and guide a group of individuals toward achieving a common objective. Effective leadership is characterized by a combination of qualities, skills, and behaviours that inspire, motivate, and empower a team.

The first and most important aspect of a successful leader is having a clear vision. A clear vision works as a guiding light, outlining the desired future and providing a sense of purpose and direction for the team. Leaders with a compelling vision can inspire and rally their followers, creating a shared sense of purpose. 

The other cornerstone of leadership is integrity. Leaders must demonstrate honesty, transparency, and ethical behaviour. Trust, which is essential in any team or organization, is built on the foundation of integrity. When people believe that their leader acts with integrity, they are more likely to follow willingly and commit to the cause. 

Another trait that is essential for effective leadership is empathy. Leaders with empathy understand and connect with the emotions, needs, and perspectives of their team members. By showing compassion and actively listening, they create a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters trust and collaboration.

Apart from these traits, other important qualities for effective leadership include effective communication and interpersonal skills. A leader must be able to articulate their vision, goals, and expectations clearly and persuasively. 

In conclusion, leadership is a multifaceted concept that plays a pivotal role towards the positive growth and development of organizations, communities, and societies. Effective leaders inspire their teams, create a sense of purpose, and drive positive change. Leadership is not merely a position; it is a journey of personal growth and a commitment to serving the greater good.

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Some of the synonyms for a leader are: Coach, Captain, Principal, Chairman, Kingpin, Boss, CEO, etc.

What makes a good leader is their ability to persuade people using their effective communication skills, having a clear vision working towards the welfare of society, and taking responsibility for their actions.

Writing an essay on leadership in 200 words must include the fundamental aspects of leadership and the qualities they must possess. Effective leaders around the world create a supportive and inclusive environment where people can thrive and contribute their best efforts. They inspire a shared sense of purpose, foster collaboration, and guide their teams toward achieving collective goals.

For more information about such informative articles, visit our essay writing page and make sure to follow Leverage Edu .

Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Leadership Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on leadership.

First of all, Leadership refers to the quality of leading people. Probably, it is one of the most important aspects of life. Above all, Leadership has led to the progress of human civilization . Without good Leadership, no organization or group can succeed. Furthermore, not everyone has this quality. This is because effective Leadership requires certain important characteristics.

Qualities of a Good Leader

First of all, confidence is the most quality. A leader must have strong self-confidence. A person lacking in confidence can never be a good leader. A person must be confident enough to ensure others follow him. The leader must have confidence in his decisions and actions. If he is unsure, then how can people have the desire to follow him.

A good leader must certainly inspire others. A leader must be a role model for his followers. Furthermore, he must motivate them whenever possible. Also, in difficult situations, a leader must not lose hope. How can a leader inspire people if he himself is hopeless?

Honesty is another notable quality of a leader. Honesty and Integrity are important to earn the love of followers. Above all, honesty is essential to win the trust of the people. Probably, every Leadership which loses trust is bound to fail. People will not work with full effort due to an immoral leader.

Good communication is a must for a good leader. This is because poor communication means the wrong message to followers. Furthermore, good communication will increase the rate of work. Also, the chances of mistakes by followers will reduce.

Another important quality is decision making. Above all, if a leader makes poor decisions then other qualities will not matter. Furthermore, good decision making ensures the success of the entire group. If the leader makes poor decisions, then the efforts of followers won’t matter.

A good leader must be an excellent innovator. He must display a creative attitude in his work. Most noteworthy, innovation is a guarantee of survival of a group or innovation. Without creative thinking, progress is not possible.

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Real-Life Examples of Good Leadership

Mahatma Gandhi was an excellent example of a good leader. He was a staunch believer in non-violence. With his brilliant Leadership skills, he made the British leave India. Probably, this was the most unique independence struggle. This is because Gandhi got freedom without any violence.

Abraham Lincoln was another notable leader. Most noteworthy, he ended the slavery system in the United States. Consequently, he made many enemies. However, he was a man of massive self-confidence. His struggle against slavery certainly became an inspiration.

Sir Winston Churchill was a great patriotic Englishman. Most noteworthy, he led Britain in the 2nd World War. Furthermore, he was extremely inspirational. He inspired Britain to fight against Nazi Germany. His great communication motivated the entire country at a time of hopelessness.

To conclude, Leadership is required in probably every sphere of life. Good leadership is the door to success. In contrast, bad leadership is a guarantee of failure. Consequently, good leaders are what make the world go round.

FAQs on Leadership

Q.1 Which is the most important quality for being a good leader? A.1 The most important quality for being a good leader is self-confidence.

Q.2 Why Sir Winston Churchill is a good leader? A.2 Sir Winston Churchill is a good leader because he inspired Britain to fight in 2nd World War. Furthermore, his excellent communication also raised the motivation of his people.

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