23 Traits of Great Leaders

1. They are realistically positive. A great leader doesn't have pie-in-the-sky optimism , thinking that everything will always turn out for the best. But great leaders do believe in the great possibility of success and are willing to take the actions necessary to get there. They expect things to turn out well and have confidence in their own abilities to make that happen.

2. They inspire , they don't dictate . Great leaders are there to help, but they encourage people to solve their own problems. If someone comes to them with a problem, they say, "What do you think you should do?" They know how to inspire somebody to get motivated so that the person becomes excited about the possibilities that lay ahead.

   Leadership appears to be the art of getting others to want to do something you are convinced should be done.

   —Vince Packard,
   writer

3. They surround themselves with success. They create a very strong environment where they live and where they work. They are focused on keeping things around that elevate their success. They also surround themselves with other successful people. They share ideas with others in their industry and welcome input from their peers and colleagues.

4. They have a passion for what they do. Passion means having a deep love, respect, and commitment for what you do personally and professionally. It's possible to be a leader at something you hate, but not for long. Some people find their passion very early in life; others wander from here to there until they discover their life's work.

   But all great leaders eventually find vocations they truly love. They are excited and enthusiastic about what they do, and they pass that on to those around them. Once a person discovers his or her passion in life, it becomes like a magnet , drawing them inevitably closer to success, and drawing others along with them.

   In motivating people, you've got to engage their minds and their hearts. I motivate people, I hope, by example—and perhaps by excitement, by having productive ideas to make others feel involved.

   —Rupert Murdoch,
   publisher

5. They communicate and speak from the heart. They are able to connect with people. The greatest leaders are the ones who are spontaneous . They know their overall mission, they know what they want to say, and they can say it without depending solely on a written script. They have a message that they want to share that comes from their passion, and they can share it without preaching or shouting. Their sincerity comes through in their words as well as in their deeds.

6. They have goals and a vision. They focus on what they want to achieve, establish priorities, and know what they have to do in order to keep moving forward. They always have a specific destination in mind. Their goals provide them with purpose and allow them to wake up each morning energized and looking forward to the tasks they know must be accomplished that day. Leaders are part of teams , and their goals are tied in with the goals of the team.

   In the movie Any Given Sunday , Al Pacino, who plays the role of a head coach of a pro football team, tries to encourage a young quarterback by telling him what a former quarterback, who was at the end of his career, said about leading the team: "Do you know what I'll miss the most? I'll miss looking down the field with the team." A great leader not only looks at the goal, but gets the whole team to look at the same goal.

   [One] characteristic a leader must possess is objectivity. He must be someone who is constantly referring back to his mission when problems come up. Someone who makes all his decisions based not on what he had for breakfast or how he feels or whether he likes the person he's dealing with, but on whether it gets him closer to his vision or backs him off.

   —Warren Bennis,
   writer

7. They achieve plans through their people, not for them. There is an old saying that goes, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." That is the mantra of a perfectionist, not a leader. Leaders let their people do what they were hired for, even if it means that they make the occasional mistake. They are grateful for what they have been able to achieve, and are happy to help others do the same. Great leaders are able to see the potential in other people, and to allow them the time and space they need to develop it. As William H. Danforth, the founder of Ralston Purina and author of I Dare You! once said, "Catch a passion for helping others and a richer life will come back to you."

   I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.

   —Ralph Nader,
   consumer advocate

8. They are bone honest. They say what they mean and they mean what they say. Jimmy Johnson, coach of the Dallas Cowboys, believes that this is the way to motivate people. Each year, during training camp, he has to encourage nervous, anxious rookies. So at the end of day, he'll tell each one about the good things they did on the field that day and say, "We think you can play here. We like you." And he means it. Says Johnson, "Sincerity is the most important part of positive treatment. The only thing worse than a coach or CEO who doesn't care about his people is one who pretends to care."

9. They maintain a sense of humor. Humor breaks down barriers. I was conducting a seminar recently for a Fortune 500 company. At the company-wide meeting before the seminars began , the CEO took part in a skit in which he made fun of himself. He took a risk doing this, as it might have made him appear foolish. But it had the opposite effect. It took him out of the category of CEO and made him appear human. It made him seem like a real, approachable person and transformed his employees ' feelings toward him. Great leaders aren't funny all the time (they take their business very seriously). They don't necessarily have a great sense of humor—but they know when a little levity can ease a tense situation and make everyone feel a bit more comfortable.

   Once you can laugh at your own weaknesses, you can move forward. Comedy breaks down walls. It opens up people. If you're good, you can fill up those openings with something positive. Maybe you can combat some of the ugliness in the world.

   —Goldie Hawn,
   actress

10. They cultivate awareness. Leaders concentrate on the big picture, and all their actions are geared towards turning that picture into reality. They are often visionaries, and can see the great possibilities that can come from staying on the path they have undertaken. They see themselves as successful before they ever reach their goals. They are constantly looking out for the opportunities that surround them so that they can steer their ship in the right direction.

11. Great leaders hire great people. Great leaders know their own weaknesses, and hire people whose strengths fill in the gaps. They're not interested in "yes men" or people who do nothing but make the leader look good. They want people who fill in any gaps and make the strongest team possible.

    One measure of leadership is the caliber of people who choose to follow you.

    —Dennis A. Peer,
    writer

12. Leaders are mentors and leaders have mentors. When leaders have problems, they have a core group of people the can call upon for help and advice. Every leader has to make difficult decisions. It's always good to consult someone who's been there before, someone who's wiser and more experienced than you. Leaders are also mentors to others. They are as generous with their wisdom as others are with theirs.

13. They have a commitment to service. A few years ago, I saw a book with the title, The Customer Comes Second . In business, you're always taught that the customer comes first. Who could come before the customer? According to this book, your employees come first. If they feel valued and respected, they will value and respect your customers in turn. Great leaders take care of their employees, and their customers get taken care of in the long run.

    Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.

    —Marian Anderson,
    singer

14. They are constantly learning. Leaders are readers. They read about their industry. They read about current events. They read about history. They read biographies of men and women who have accomplished much in their lives. They learn by taking action. Nothing teaches better than experience, and great leaders are constantly open to new experiences. They explore new interests. They learn new skills for business and for pleasure . They practice the fundamentals of their business so that once learned, they have a skill for life.

    Vincent van Gogh once wrote: "If you study Japanese art, you see a man who is undoubtedly wise, philosophic, and intelligent , who spends his time how? In studying the distance between the Earth and the moon? No. In studying the policy of Bismark? No. He studies a single blade of grass. But the blade of grass leads him to draw every plant and then the seasons, the wide aspects of the countryside, then the animals, then the human figure. So he passes his life, and life is too short to do the whole."

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    The point is not that you paint the same blade of grass over and over again. The point is that by learning the art of painting the grass, you learn the whole art of painting. Great leaders are willing to put in the time necessary to draw the blade of grass before they try and learn the whole art of painting.

15. They have faith in themselves first. Mark Twain once said, "Fear came knocking at the door, faith answered , and no one was there." Great leaders have to have faith in themselves and in their abilities because they communicate this faith to those around them. Of course, they have moments of doubt and fear just like everyone else. But they don't dwell on them. They acknowledge those moments and let them pass. They exude confidence, and their belief in their vision is so strong that other people can't help but believe as well.

    The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position.

    —Leo Buscaglia,
    educator and writer

16. They deliver on promises, or they don't make them. Great leaders do not make promises lightly. They know that they will remain leaders only as long as they have the trust and loyalty of their "followers." If they break their word, they break that trust. They destroy their own integrity, and once destroyed , it is difficult to regain.

17. They are flexible. Great leaders know that there are always many ways to accomplish a task or reach a goal. If one way doesn't work, they will try another. They adapt to changing markets, products, and competition. They understand that their way isn't the only way, nor necessarily the best way. They are open to new ideas and input, and listen to all suggestions even if those suggestions come from unexpected sources.

    The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.

    —Linus Pauling,
    chemist

18. They are focused. Leaders get things done. They are people of action. Other people may say about a leader, "Sure, he can be abrasive (or whatever flaw he may have)—but he gets things done." Leaders don't just jump into action without thought; they evaluate situations and take calculated risks. They know that failure is always a possibility, but they aim straight for success.

    Leadership, like swimming, cannot be learned by reading about it.

    —Henry Mintzberg,
    writer

19. They are flawed, but they have diamond potential. They know themselves. They gain respect by admitting their weaknesses, and they work toward improving those areas. Leaders who think they are perfect soon learn otherwise .

20. They understand that recognition is a powerful motivator. Everyone needs praise and recognition. Leaders, like good parents, know that paying attention to their "children," and giving out praise—when it is deserved—is the most effective way to build confidence.

    Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.

    —Tom Peters,
    management expert

21. They expect excellence and push beyond. They expect the best from their people, and gently push them toward it. We don't always recognize our own capabilities. A great leader has the ability to see what others can't see in themselves and helps them cultivate those abilities.

22. They turn adversity into opportunity. When things go wrong—and they do—they look for the lessons that can be learned. Some people see the difficulties in every opportunity, but great leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty. They experience depression and disappointment like everyone else, but they don't let those feelings overwhelm their desire to succeed. They may be down, but they'll be up again.

    People seldom see the halting and painful steps by which the most insignificant success is achieved.

    —Annie Sullivan,
    teacher and mentor

23. They have fun. They know that life is short, and they are determined to live life to its fullest. They enjoy playing the game, and they know that means that sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. They thrive on the exhilaration of life's ups and downs , whether they're at work or at play.

The Leaders People Hate...

• Have no energy and low enthusiasm .

• Have no vision.

• Are willing to settle for average performance.

• Take credit for everything.

• Are blame-assigners.

• Are glued to their desks.

• Care more about their commission than about their people.

• Lack communication skills.

• Let their friends stop pulling their weight.

• Don't stand behind their team.