Leadership plays an integral part in the ability to inspire and motivate a group of people to work effectively to achieve a common goal. Great leaders are visionary thinkers who can rally people around a cause to bring about change. In this article, we will look at three traits great leaders have in common.
Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate to and connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives.
Oprah Winfrey
1. Empathy
Every great leader understands the importance of connecting and developing shared understanding with their followers. The bond between a leader and followers is something no great leaders take for granted. Empathising with someone is an effective way to demonstrate you genuinely care about them.
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
Lao Tzu
2. Humility
Every great leader cultivates a sense of humility, giving credit to his/her team’s hard work for success and taking the blame for failures. Humility is a quality found among leaders who are secure in themselves and don’t need to brag about their accomplishments.
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”
Harry S. Truman
3. Lifelong Learner
The world is constantly changing. If a leader doesn’t keep up with his time, he is left behind. Every great leader is curious and always keep learning. Great leaders embrace lifelong learning and make time to read books. They are committed to keep learning and grow. They are not afraid to say they don’t know and ask for help from people who may be smarter.
Question for you:
What are your top 3 leadership qualities?
