What makes a great leader is a unique combination of qualities that go beyond mere management prowess. A great leader not only possesses a clear vision and strategic acumen but also embodies integrity and empathy in their interactions. They inspire trust through consistent honesty and ethical behavior, fostering a culture where individuals feel valued and respected. Effective communication skills allow them to articulate their vision and goals with clarity, rallying their team around a shared purpose. Decisiveness ensures timely and effective decision-making, even in challenging situations, while empathy enables them to understand and support their team members on a personal level. By cultivating these qualities, great leaders not only drive organizational success but also create an environment where innovation flourishes and individuals thrive.
Being a good leader is not a cakewalk. There are all kinds of people and situations, and as a leader, you have to not only face them but win them.
Below are a few qualities of leaders, as shared by Hirav Shah, which lead them to success:
Table of Contents
Learn what makes a great leader- Qualities of leaders
1. Demonstrating Integrity: Essential Traits of What Makes a Great Leader
Integrity refers to being truthful, even if it is ugly. It means being credible, honest and owning up your mistakes instead of hiding them or blaming them on someone else. It is this quality which will make the followers believe in the power of the leader.
2. The Ability to Inspire: A Key Trait of What Makes a Great Leader
Inspiration (not motivation) is the most important leadership trait, fuelled by passion and purpose. It is the ability to infuse passion, creativity, energy, and connection, in other people and organizations, and pushing them forward towards their goals even when morale is low.
3. Listening
They actually listen. True leaders don’t just express their thoughts and ideas. They actually believe and practice the ‘art of listening.’
They listen and encourage their follower’s ideas, give constructive feedback on those ideas and implement them. Good leaders tell their followers that their ideas matter!
4. Enthusiasm is what makes a great leader
They are enthusiastic. Good leaders do not mind getting their hands dirty. They actually care about the cause and the people. They show enthusiasm all day long, and work with passion and dedication and inspire others to do so too.
5. Inquisitiveness is what makes a great leader
Most leaders have an inquisitive attitude towards life. They are curious in nature and are always looking forward to learning and exploring new things, art, technology, etc. It is this quality that makes them face any problem with a positive outlook.
6. Taking Small Steps: Building Blocks of What Makes a Great Leader
Baby steps are everything. Each day, they work on something that is a stepping stone towards their final goal.
7. Discipline
They are very disciplined. Whether it is with their workouts, waking up early, or completing a task.
8. Meditation
They meditate and focus on what they want, regularly. A lot of them start their day with a 20 minute meditation session, and focus on what they want to attract during the day, and get exactly that.
9. Reading: Cultivating Knowledge in What Makes a Great Leader
They read a lot. They read books and articles on diverse topics such as world affairs, GK, politics, or even fashion. Furthermore, they like being well-informed, and aware.
10. Being In The Right Company
They practice Millionaire’s success habits and being in the right company is just that.
They avoid negativity. Furthermore, they avoid the things and the people that spew negativity. They don’t want to be with people that tell them that the glass is half empty. They would rather drink the water in that glass and go about with their day.
Likewise, they avoid battery drainers, rather they want to be with battery chargers.
They spend time in the company of the people who they love, and who inspire them. For some it could be their mentor, for some, their kids, for some their partners. They make it a point to spend time with these people as often as they can.
All this is what Hirav Shah, Legendary Business Transformation Expert and India’s Most Sought-After Brand Enhancement Expert has been echoing all the time and this, also, is Hirav Shah’s philosophy.
FAQs on Leadership and Team Building by Hirav Shah
What qualities distinguish a great leader?
Answer: Great leaders typically exhibit qualities such as vision, integrity, empathy, decisiveness, and the ability to inspire and motivate others. They are adept at strategic thinking, communication, and problem-solving, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
How does effective communication contribute to leadership?
Answer: Effective communication is crucial for leadership as it helps leaders convey their vision, goals, and expectations clearly. It fosters transparency, builds trust among team members, resolves conflicts, and ensures alignment towards common objectives.
What role does empathy play in effective leadership?
Answer: Empathy allows leaders to understand and connect with their team members on a deeper level. It helps in recognizing individual strengths and challenges, promoting a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, and enhancing team collaboration and morale.
Why is it important for leaders to have a clear vision?
Answer: A clear vision provides direction and purpose for the team. It guides decision-making, inspires action, and helps prioritize tasks and resources towards achieving long-term goals. Leaders with a compelling vision can rally their teams and stakeholders behind a shared future.
How does integrity contribute to effective leadership?
Answer: Integrity builds trust and credibility for leaders. It involves honesty, ethical behavior, and consistency in actions and decisions. Leaders with integrity inspire confidence among their team members, stakeholders, and customers, fostering strong relationships and organizational reputation.
What strategies can leaders use to foster innovation?
Answer: Leaders can foster innovation by encouraging a culture of creativity and experimentation, supporting risk-taking and learning from failures, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and providing resources and incentives for exploring new ideas and solutions.
These answers provide a comprehensive overview of various aspects that contribute to being a great leader, from qualities and communication skills to the importance of vision, empathy, and integrity.
Final Thoughts
As a leader, it is important you have all these qualities. But, if you don’t have some of these, do not worry-you can always build them.
The path to building them won’t be easy- it requires self-awareness and humility, but it is not impossible -Concludes Hirav Shah, Prolific Business Advisor and Business Transformation Expert.
