Common Characteristics of a Leader
Common characteristics of a leader
All leaders have common characteristics that mark them out as leaders.
The characteristics are independent of the particular industry or the market sector: the characteristics are those that distinguish the leader from the non-leader. If you want to improve your leadership skills then do the following:
- Consider numerous specific examples of great leadership: Churchill, Ghandi, Lincoln, Napoleon, Thatcher, Bill Gates etc.
- Identify the distinguishing characteristics that are unique to leadership.
- Name them and make a list.
- Memorise the list.
- Practice the "distinguishing characteristics that are unique to leadership" for long enough to make them a part of your habitual patterns of behaviour.
To help you in your quest I have done the first three steps for you.
Your job is to take the last two steps.
Create a strong desire to achieve a specific goal
To all leaders, this characteristic is the most important.
All leaders ARE leaders primarily because they have committed themselves to achieve a definite goal:
Examples
- Spartacus wanted freedom for his slave army
- J.F. Kennedy wanted to put an American on the moon
- Ghandi wanted freedom from the British
- Margaret Thatcher wanted to reinstate free market capitalism in place of Labours socialism
- Marin Luther King wanted freedom from racist America
- Karl Marx wanted to reinstate socialism in place of free market capitalism
All leaders want to lead their followers somewhere!
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An apathetic leader is a contradiction in terms.
If you want to develop your leadership qualities then mentally lock onto a worthwhile and specific goal.
The leaders are good communicators
You can't lead if nobody will follow!
So most leaders are also good communicators.
They work hard to develop their communication skills; both spoken and written.
- Churchill was a great communicator
- Tony Blair too, had the gift of the gab
- So too, does David Cameron
Question is Ed Milliband a great orator? ....... or not?
Develop your ability to handle the English language
Improve your command of the English language
Plan ahead
Most leaders are good planners
They spend hours planning and preparing.
They don't hope that things will happen; they make sure they will happen
"Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire." Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich
"When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal." Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich
Become an incessant planner
Maintain a sense of optimism for the future
All great leaders expect to win.
There is no greatness to be found in people who begin expecting to lose.
Leaders who expect to lose, lose.
The trick is to create a thought habit of expecting success.
Manufacture positive expectation even in the absence of tangible evidence.
The self-belief is built upon the detailed written plan, not the evidence of the senses.
Example even in the darkest days Churchill spoke of winning
"You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory."
All leaders have self-belief and confidence based upon sound plans.
Develop courage
The last factor I want to add to your list is courage. All leaders must have sufficient courage to take on the responsibility of assuming the role of leader
Courage is that state of mind that enables you to face fear situations with confidence, and resolution.
"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honour". Aristotle
Ronald Reagan said "There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.
Remember that courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others".
If you want to improve your leadership skills then do the following:
- Create a strong desire to achieve a specific goal
- Improve your command of the English language
- Become an incessant planner
- Maintain a sense of optimism for the future
- Develop courage
For more information about Leadership skills training visit the Corporate Coach Group website
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Definition: leader
In business management, a leader is a role that sets a clear, valuable goal, shares that goal in plain speech and writing, plans and directs resources to reach the goal, and keeps steady courage and hope when risk appears.
Show CG4D Definition
- Sets a clear, valuable goal
- Communicates the goal and plan with clarity
- Plans and directs resources to reach the goal
- Shows steady courage and optimism under risk
Article Summary
Great leaders share five learnable habits: they fix on a clear goal, speak with clarity, plan each step, expect success and act with courage. Practise these leadership characteristics daily and you move from follower to leader in any role or industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
What five leadership characteristics does the article highlight?
Why must a leader set a specific goal?
How can I improve communication skills for leaders?
What makes written planning so important in leadership?
How do great leaders maintain optimism during setbacks?
Why is courage classed as the first quality of a leader?
How can I practise these leadership characteristics every day?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
The 2024 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report says 77% of learning leaders name leadership and management as their number one skill focus this year. Gallup data from 2024 shows teams led by managers who set clear goals earn 21% higher profit than teams with weak goal setting.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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Further Reading in Team Leader and First Line Manager
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Common characteristics of a leader
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