Exploring Often Overlooked Leadership Attributes
When it comes to leadership, there are certain qualities that are often emphasized, such as charisma, decisiveness, and vision. While these traits are certainly important, there are other, more underrated qualities that are just as crucial for effective leadership.
Empathy
An effective leader doesn’t just demand an outcome and expect their team to fall in line. They also take the time to understand other perspectives, needs, and concerns. Empathy and understanding help leaders build trust and rapport with their team, leading to better communication, collaboration, and morale.
Humility
A leader is never afraid to say “I don’t know,” but they will always follow up with “Let’s find out together!”
A great leader is someone who understands that they do not know everything. Instead, they are willing to acknowledge their mistakes, and know how to utilize their resources (including their team). A humble leader has to be adaptable, innovative, and collaborative.
Patience
Becoming a leader, especially a quality leader, takes time to achieve. It takes time to build a successful team, develop a vision, and achieve goals. A patient leader understands this and is willing to put in the time and effort required to see their plans through, even if it means encountering setbacks and obstacles along the way.
This includes being patient with their team, not just the end goal. Developing a team, and a trusting relationship with that team, is something that takes time. A patient leader is able to recognize this and provide the necessary support.
Resilience
Leadership requires guiding a team through setbacks and obstacles. A good leader must be able to bounce back in order to support their team. They must have the mental and emotional fortitude to persevere through tough times, maintain a positive attitude, and inspire their team to do the same. This helps them overcome challenges and emerge stronger on the other side.
Creativity
Leadership is not just about following a set of rules or procedures. It also requires creativity, innovation, and outside-the-box thinking. A good leader is someone who can see the big picture and come up with novel solutions to complex problems. It also requires them to evaluate the polices and procedures they implement to determine if they are the right fit for their team and projects. This helps them stay ahead of the curve and keep their team energized and engaged.
Leadership is not always something that comes naturally. It requires a multitude of interpersonal skills and internal motivation. We often think of successful leaders as cold and unapproachable, acting more like larger than life figures than a member of a team. When leaders are able to evaluate their own performance and skills, they are able to be more of an asset to their team.
