Qualities of a leader: 15 traits of

effective leadership

1. Empowers team members

Empowering others should be one of your most important objectives as a leader. Your job is to
help your team learn and succeed. That starts with daily motivation, relationship building,
showing respect, and co-creating solutions to problems when they arise. 

Teams should feel empowered by your confidence in them and industry know-how. When
they’re empowered, great work can be created. You can foster team empowerment by:

 Encouraging team members to take on new challenges

 Motivating your team to get back up when things go wrong 

 Being a kind but honest communicator

2. Focuses on team development

Sharing your wealth of knowledge is just one of the many traits of a leader. A good leader not
only develops themselves but also takes time out of their day to help others grow. This could be
in the form of trainings, lunch and learns, or even co-creating solutions to problems with team
members. 

Not only does it help those around you continue growing their careers, but it can teach you things
along the way as well. You can work on developing others by:

 Paying attention to what team members want to learn

 Using mistakes as teachable moments

 Giving constructive criticism even when it’s hard

The important thing to remember is to encourage and train others the way you wish you had been
in your career. 

3. Communicates effectively

Communication is a key piece of any successful team, especially as it pertains to great leadership
attributes. There is a fine line between too little and too much, but it’s always better to err on the
side of too much. A lack of communication can result in poor performance or a lack of
organizational clarity. Our communication also needs to be effective, meaning it’s delivered in a
direct yet personal way. This includes communicating about projects, as well as connecting as a
team. You can work on your communication skills by:

 Asking your team for feedback

 Listening before speaking

 Answering questions directly

 Tailoring your message to your audience

4. Shows high emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to control and express your emotions, as well as handle
interpersonal relationships. Why is that so important in the workplace? 
 A leader is someone who inspires and guides rather than directs. This means it’s crucial to be
empathetic toward teammates so they feel comfortable and open around you. You can work on
your emotional intelligence by:

 Considering how your team members may be feeling

 Examining how your words or actions might affect others

 Holding space for how others may feel about a situation 

 Responding versus reacting to a conflict or difficult situation 

5. Possesses problem-solving skills

Of all the competencies needed to be a leader, having problem-solving skills is one of the most
important. Team members will likely come to you about problems that need solving. It’s your
job to be prepared with strategic advice for whatever comes your way. 

This doesn’t mean you need to have all the answers all the time. Instead, you should be prepared
with resources that can empower your team to resolve the problem on their own. You can work
on your problem-solving skills by:

 Backing your advice up with data or an experience

 Asking questions that lead your teammates down the right path

 Providing multiple solutions for your team to try out 

 Being an active listener to gain clarity 

In short, you don’t need to have all of the answers. You just need to give guidance on how your
team can solve whatever issue they’re facing. Letting a decision linger for too long is draining,
so don’t let perfectionism keep you from providing input.

6. Respects others
 Respect is something everyone deserves—whether you have 30 years of professional experience
or three. Showing others respect can help create a healthy team dynamic based on mutual
respect. 

While respect comes from a variety of sources, it’s important to begin by treating everyone as
equals. Additional ways you can work on showing respect are by:

 Communicating with team members as equals regardless of position

 Listen to someone else’s perspective even if you disagree

 Give recognition for a job well done

 Have a positive attitude

Good leaders know that positivity and respect go a long way. A good rule of thumb is to
acknowledge that everyone is a partner in what you’re trying to accomplish.

7. Prioritizes personal development

Personal development is an important part of career growth no matter where you are in your
professional journey. Developing your skills can help you and your team improve your
organization in the long run. 

It’s also a good idea to have regular checkpoints for self-reflection. Where are you in your
personal development journey, and how does that connect to the good of your organization? This
can help both your personal and professional growth. You can improve your personal
development by:

 Attending industry-relevant conferences

 Taking courses

 Collaborating with other departments 

 These actions will not only help you be a continuous learner and network with like-minded
individuals, but they also help you bring new ideas to the table that increase your impact on your
team and organization.

8. Encourages strategic thinking

Leaders are constantly looking for ways to keep their team and organization moving forward.
This can be anything from internal processes like roadmaps and technological advancements to
external factors like SWOT analyses and product offerings. From brainstorming techniques to
prioritizing project tasks, a good leader motivates their team members to think strategically as
well. You can work on encouraging strategic thinking by:

 Listening to all ideas, whether you agree with them or not

 Hosting team brainstorming sessions

 Giving feedback that is backed by data 

 Letting your team carry out their ideas and learn from mistakes 

Thinking strategically is important for both your own self-awareness and your team, so make it a
priority to encourage new ideas.

9. Actively listens

Being a leader means listening more than speaking. It’s your job to pay attention to
organizational problems and your team members’ thoughts in order to become a change maker. 

It’s also important to listen to those around you to show respect and empathy. You can work on
being a better listener by:

 Giving team members full attention when they come to you with input or feedback

 Asking questions before speaking your mind

 Scheduling recurring times to check in with the team 

 Attending meetings that your team leads  

Being a listener is an important, yet often overlooked, part of being a leader. Finding the right
balance of inspiring with your words and inspiring with your ears is the difference between a
good and great leader. 

10. Delegates work

Most of us have had first-hand experience overcoming the challenge of delegating work. There’s
a fine line between letting your team take on new responsibilities and letting them take all of the
responsibility. 

A good leader knows that delegating work can help grow their team’s skill set and keep projects
moving forward. After all, you can’t do everything all of the time. Rely on your team and they’ll
do the same for you. 

You can work on better delegating work by:

 Asking your team members what projects they want to work on

 Providing an outline or brief if the project is complex 

 Giving honest feedback so work can be done well 

 Fostering time management skills to get work done on time

Not delegating enough is bad for both leaders and team members who could be growing with
more autonomy. Your first instinct might be to get involved when work isn’t up to your
standards, but it’s important to let your team members learn from their own mistakes. 

11. Takes accountability

 While letting your team take ownership of projects is needed, that doesn’t mean you’ve given up
all accountability for their work. It’s important to support your team by taking accountability
when things don’t go as planned. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that all goals aren’t met all
of the time. Not meeting expectations provides opportunities for growth—both personal growth
and for your organization. 

You can work on taking accountability by:

 Taking action when goals aren’t met and providing solutions

 Explaining where expectations weren’t met and why

 Regularly monitoring the progress of key initiatives 

Taking accountability means owning up to things that could have gone better and working to
solve them with your team. Remember, we’re all in this together and a growth mindset can help
you and your team learn from mistakes. 

12. Shows deep passion for their work

The most successful leaders are the ones who are passionate about what they do. To put it
simply, an executive role doesn’t make you a leader. Your knowledge, passion, and teamwork
are what make you a leader. 

True leaders are the ones who motivate you to do better—even in the face of big challenges.
Leaders are the ones who pave the way for you to do great work. 

It’s this passion that sets a leader apart from an executive. Without it, it’s hard to be the best
leader you can be. Leaders who are passionate about their work are likely to answer "yes" to the
following questions:

 Are you excited about your role and responsibilities?

 Do you get energized about new projects?

 Does motivating people give you a sense of accomplishment?

 Are you working for something you believe in?

Reflecting on your passion for your work can help you connect with what truly energizes you
and be a better leader in the long run. Additionally, it’s important that everyone on your team
shares a common purpose and a clear understanding of why they’re doing what they’re doing.

13. Is a visionary

A visionary is a rather broadly defined term, though you tend to know it when you see it.
Visionaries are able to see the end result before anything tangible has been created. This is why
business owners and entrepreneurs tend to be visionaries. They can see a good idea come to
fruition before anything has been created. 

Though not everyone is a visionary, you can still practice visionary leadership to motivate your
team. Regularly challenge yourself to visualize the future by:

 Imagining what your team will accomplish in a year

 Facilitating brainstorms and connecting ideas

 Motivating others to challenge their thinking

Being a visionary is similar to strategic thinking. Both are important for decision-making needs
and for creating clear goals. 

14. Cares about others

 Caring about others is different from respecting others. The biggest difference is showing you
care versus saying you care. Both respect and care are needed for building trust and
empowerment on your team. 

To inspire others, it’s important to invest in them and their career path. Without that personal
connection, guidance can feel more like a directive. You can work on creating that personal
connection by:

 Connecting with team members about more than just work

 Asking your team members about their goals and interests 

 Being an empathetic listener 

 Participating in team building games

Creating personal connections with your teammates can empower your working relationships. It
can even help cultivate good communication within teams, strengthening overall collaboration. 

15. Stays up-to-date on trends

These days, you have to be tech-savvy and stay up to date with new trends in order to deliver
innovative results. From new software capabilities like business process automation to AI and
more, staying ahead of the curve separates a good team from a great one. Who better to lead
them there than you? The best part about following industry trends is that there is an abundance
of training and information on just about anything. So if you’re not in the tech-savvy bucket just
yet, here are some ways you can improve your knowledge base:

 Dedicate time each week to learning something new

 Follow technology leaders for industry trends

 Attend conferences and networking events

 Connect with a mentor who can teach you

Due to the ever-evolving nature of trends, it’s good to practice these tips even if you’re skilled in
your field. That way you can continue to share innovative ideas that grow your organization to
new heights.