To be an effective natural leader, you need specific personality traits that allow you to communicate clearly and effectively with others. If you aspire to advance in your career or focus on self-improvement, possessing these qualities is going to be essential, so here are 17 of the best traits you can develop to become a natural leader.
Empowering Others
As Executive Leadership Consulting explains, it’s important to empower others as a leader as it means you’re acknowledging their strengths and giving them a chance to contribute. Being able to empower others will also give a team motivation to create their best work. A leader will do this by delegating work and giving individuals a chance to prove themselves.
Passion
A leader will always have a passion towards their work. It’s this passion that will motivate others to try their best. If a team can see their leader working their hardest, they’ll want to do the same. A passionate leader will show commitment to their work and this passion will then be reflected through it.
Charisma
Charisma is the ability to attract and charm those around you. It gives leaders an undeniable presence that will certainly leave their mark on others. An article from Leaders wrote that one pro of charisma is being able to inspire employees to reach their full potential.
Thinking Ahead
A leader will always stay one step ahead of the game. They can look towards the future and know what plans or strategies need to be implemented. A leader will look at what goals they want to achieve and then communicate these directly to their team.
Empathy
Leaders need to be able to understand others. They must have the ability to listen and care for their team. The Center for Creative Leadership said that being empathetic “means having the ability to understand the needs of others.” A leader should always support their team as this is a path to success.
Honesty
A leader should be honest with those working for them. They need to make sure they’re always transparent with their team, whether the news is good or bad. As McGrath Training Solutions writes via LinkedIn, honesty will always help a leader to be respected and heard.
Resilience
The ability to bounce back from obstacles is what sets leaders apart from others. They’re able to keep going and push forward. They can easily adapt to change and handle any pressure that comes with their work – so much so that Forbes lists stress management as a key leadership skill.
Communication Skills
A leader will be able to clearly express their ideas and plans to a team. Not only are they great at talking, but they are also at listening and will take onboard anything that a team member may say. A natural leader should easily be able to persuade others. This is something that’s also reflected in the charisma trait.
Accountability
Responsibility is a key part of leadership. A leader needs to be able to own their decisions and actions, even if they don’t always work out for the best. PepTalk states that “when leaders are held accountable for their actions… employees will trust in your leadership more.”
Ability to Make Decisions
Leaders should be able to make quick and informed decisions, sometimes even instantly. Thought needs to be put into each and every decision a leader makes. They need to be able to evaluate each risk. As well as this, a leader should then stick by their decision no matter what, as they know they’ve made the right choice.
A Problem Solver
To be a problem solver, a leader must be analytical and think problems through logically. With this mindset, a leader should be able to work through a problem effectively. Another Forbes article stated that “problem-solving is the essence of what leaders exist to do.”
A Team Player
A leader needs to be able to work well with those on their team. It’s important to get stuck in with their team and allow everyone to communicate openly. This will also involve giving team members a chance to voice their opinions in regards to any objectives.
Presence
All leaders must have a presence that makes them stand out from the rest. It’s this presence that gives them authority over others and creates respect. Their presence should inspire and motivate others. It will influence their team to create the best outcomes.
Emotional Intelligence
A leader will have an element of self-awareness that allows them to manage their own emotions. It’s this emotional intelligence that will help them create meaningful relationships and sympathize with anyone on their team. Harvard Business School has said that if a leader lacks emotional intelligence, then it can result in lower employee engagement.
Adaptability
Leaders need to be flexible as there will be times when circumstances or environments change. A leader should always make sure that they’re learning and adapting to modern technologies. This open-mindedness helps them stay relevant and always one step ahead of the game.
Authenticity
To gain respect from their team, a leader needs to interact with authenticity. This helps to gain trust and allows their team to be more open. It creates values in how a leader carries out their work and means their decisions stay consistent, helping them to get the best out of their team.
Strategic Thinking
A leader is always thinking ahead. Sometimes, this will come in the form of strategic thinking. It means they’re planning everything that needs to be executed in the near future. This helps with decision-making as a leader will already be aware of their objectives. Having a clear idea of their strategies means they can create a vision with a purpose.