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What are the most common characteristics of a leader?
Leadership versus management—what’s the difference?
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What are the most common characteristics of a leader?
Leadership versus management—what’s the difference?
When you think about great leaders, who comes to mind?
Impactful figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., or perhaps Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela might come to mind.
But defining what truly marks these historic icons as good leaders proves a bit more challenging. Was it simply their position that made them good leaders, or was it something more?
While we’ve all experienced leadership in our lives, very rarely are we asked to define “what is a good leader.” Answers vary from company to company and person to person, making the qualities of leadership even more elusive to pinpoint.
Are you thinking about the next step in your career? This article explores the definition and qualities of leadership, how it differs from management, and tips for becoming a better leader.
Simple explorations of the question, “what is a leader?” include:
A leader may be any of those things, but a good leader is all three.
An effective leader has a shared vision aligned with core values and understands what it will take to reach their team goals. They inspire, manage, and support their teams to work creatively and confidently toward that shared vision.
A leader empowers their team members to embrace their own unique leadership qualities and act with independently accountable passion. And they inspire and motivate their teams to maintain long-term progress and excitement towards achieving their goals.
Leaders are bold but never leave their teams behind. Balancing vision with support that empowers team members to achieve shared goals, leaders embrace a number of leadership qualities and can’t be pinned down to a single style.
However, leaders across the board tend to exhibit seven major characteristics:
We often hear managers referred to as leaders and vice versa. But while qualities of leadership might include managerial responsibilities, they certainly don’t stop there.
Managers often work within a chain of command, limiting their ability to free the reins and innovate toward a large-scale vision. Managers ensure timely delivery of projects, project assignments, and facilitate interpersonal communication.
Leaders ask questions, embracing innovation and out-of-the-box thinking, alongside honest feedback and transparency. Leaders seek to empower their teams to embrace their individual leadership qualities. They foster a team of highly motivated and innovative leaders intent on achieving a shared vision.
Leaders must manage their employees, keeping them on track to achieve goals and providing structure for work. But in addition to managerial duties, they're also charged with visionary thinking, creating work that feels purposeful and meaningful, and inspiring long-term commitment in each of their team members.
There’s always room to become a better leader, and the specific steps you take may vary by experience level, personal attributes, and goals. But no matter where you are on your leadership journey, you can follow these three steps to become a better leader.
Leadership is about social skills, not power and control. The most effective leaders take time to listen and learn about their team members and the unique qualities of leadership they each have.
Create opportunities for your team members to capitalize on their strengths and maximize their efficiency. Ask for feedback and inquire about employee ideas. The more team members feel personally valued, the more you’ll embolden them to work with passion toward goals they believe in and care about.
Leaders know where they want to go and take time to learn about team members’ personal goals and visions. This can help ensure everyone feels valued and encompassed in the company’s larger mission.
Explore your team members’ core values and incorporate them into larger, team- and company-wide goals. You’ll help your team members find more meaning and fulfillment in their work, motivating them to work beyond assigned tasks towards innovation.
Leaders are growth-minded and take every opportunity to better themselves and their teams.
Who is a leader you look up to? What is a leadership role you can see yourself in, and who is currently in that role? Get to know those leaders better, and consider asking one of them to mentor you.
You may also find opportunities for improvement from your colleagues and team members. Provide opportunities for open conversation and feedback across all levels of your organization.
When providing feedback to others, pair transparent communication with additional resources for team members to sharpen their skills and maximize their strengths. This will enable them to bring their best to every situation, and provide more creative feedback.
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Regardless of recognition or position in a company, leaders mark themselves by their abilities to envision, motivate, strategize, and support their teams toward achievement.
They are more than managers — they are innovative and inspire others to join them on their mission toward a greater vision. And they know there’s always room to improve their leadership skills, ideas, and output, so they rely on mutual support with their team members.
Vice President of Alliance Solutions