John Maxwell once said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”  So what personal leadership skills do you need to become a great leader? Whether you are focused on personal leadership development or organizational leadership, here are twelve leadership qualities that will help you stand out as a successful leader:

    1. Confidence—Display confidence not only in yourself, but also in those around you. When people work confidently, they are more likely to achieve their goals

 

    1. Passion—Tackle your work with enthusiasm and dedication. This will motivate and inspire others to do the same.

 

    1. Character—Show integrity in all that you do. By being respectful of others, honest, and trustworthy, you will naturally gain the respect and admiration of your team.

 

    1. Positive Outlook—As cheesy as it sounds, a “can do” attitude is contagious. Spread it around with impunity! Your attitude sets the tone for your household or organization. Be the positive force that you want to see in those around you.

 

    1. Steadfast—Having a rock-solid, measured demeanor (i.e. no yelling, cursing, sending embarrassing mass emails, or other engaging in other unruly boss antics) is calming and reassuring to those you are leading. It gives others confidence that you can effectively handle any situation.

 

    1. Goal-Oriented—There is nothing more frustrating than working with no clear goal in mind. When you clearly identify your goals, you can easily break them down into manageable tasks and delegate tasks to others in order to achieve the goal quickly and efficiently.

 

    1. Good Communication Skills—Being able to communicate effectively is key to your personal development and leadership abilities. Without good communication, you will end up with confusion, frustration, and other unintended consequences which can be costly to your organization. Remember, good interpersonal communication requires the ability to tactfully get your point across and listen to the person you are communicating with.

 

    1. Servant Leadership—Focus on serving others rather than serving yourself. By coaching, developing, and facilitating personal growth in those around you, you will ultimately be rewarded with a dedicated, empowered team who is committed to you.

 

    1. Commitment to Excellence-Mediocrity breeds mediocrity, so set the example for others by taking pride in doing quality work, regardless of the task.

 

    1. Listen Intently-Good listening is an essential leadership skill to master. If those around you don’t think you are listening to them, it will lead to frustration, gossip, and other negative consequences.

 

    1. Be Organized—Model good organization, personal productivity and time management skills. Disorganization and lack of productivity reflect poorly on you as a leader and the organization that you represent.

 

    1. Lead by Example—It is nearly impossible to inspire others to behave a certain way when you talk the talk but fail to walk the walk. Hypocrisy in leadership is a personal statement that you either don’t believe in what you are asking of others or that it isn’t really that important.

 

 

Are you interested in developing skills for leadership in your personal life, career or community? Contact us today to get a free quote or more information on any of our services.