15 [PROVEN] Traits of an IMPACTFUL LEADER
True leaders understand that their purpose in life goes beyond themselves. Whether you are leading a team, a business, a community, or a country, effective leadership is vital. It’s about how you show up as an individual in your life, the choices you make, and how you engage with others. No matter what type of leader you are or aspire to be, leadership skills are essential to influencing, motivating, and inspiring others.
In my years as a Human Resources Executive, my experience has given me the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from colleagues who I consider to be absolutely amazing leaders. I have also had the opportunity to assist in the development of many leaders. On the other hand, I have also been able to see firsthand what poor leadership looks like and the negative impacts of it in many facets.
In my Coaching Practice, Key Results Coaching Solutions, I use a combination of skills, knowledge, experience, and strategy to Coach executives and leaders from all industries, sectors, and disciplines on techniques to improve their ability to connect with others and celebrate diversity, hence helping them to become more effective and impactful leaders. This has also given me the ability to help entrepreneurs through my membership platform, The Entrepreneur Champion, develop awesome employment brands and build engaged teams, which has ultimately helped their businesses grow; all by simply improving their leadership skills.
Below I have listed some common themes I have seen in some of the most charismatic and influential leaders I have had the pleasure to work with over the years. I also believe these traits make a well-rounded leader. Let's dive in.
Positivity - This makes leaders more likable and increases their ability to establish trust. A positive mindset can help you avoid a work environment where morale is low and those around you are afraid to speak up and add value to the greater picture.
Embraces Differences - Diversity, input, and teamwork will be critical to your success. New points of view will help you hone your approach, and see opportunities that you would not have on your own. We should always encourage feedback as this is going to be the secret sauce to your growth.
Approachability - No matter how powerful or dynamic a leader you are, it is important to remain approachable. Being approachable assists with others being comfortable working with you and for you, and it also sets a major foundation for psychological safety.
Delegates Responsibility- Great leaders know how to delegate and teach others how to be successful. This is also relevant in personal areas of your life where it can be helpful to hire others to clean your home, cook for you, or do laundry for example. Allowing you as a leader to make the best use of your time and focus. This all means fully trusting those that you hire to help. A great leader does not micromanage but trusts and encourages others to do their job.
Proactive attitude - A great leader is focused on solving problems, not contributing to problems or creating problems. It’s important to know what to focus on especially in a challenging situation. You should have a proactive thought process that preemptively anticipates challenges as opposed to having to react to issues once they arrive.
Lead by example - Great leaders will always do themselves what they expect of others. Do you expect others to work hard, have a positive attitude, be proactive, etc? It’s important that you lead by example. Those around you will always work harder with good intentions when they know that you have the same expectations for yourself as you have of them.
Accountable - Accountability is just not about responsibility, but it’s about taking things to another level by always making things right and taking ownership in the things that are wrong to make improvements going forward. A true leader owns their mistakes and their team's mistakes.
Decisive - Great leaders make sound decisions with confidence. Understanding that every decision may not be the “right” decision, but it’s important to make a decision nonetheless. Wrong decisions can always be fixed, but the inability to make decisions causes disruption and can be detrimental to a team's foundation.
True leaders have a natural innate response to lead - Leadership is not always about wanting to become a leader, but it’s something that’s inside you already whether it's your experiences, intelligence, observations, values, or more. Whatever it may be it’s a natural element that highlights your ability to lead. Leaders are often able to see something that others are not able to see.
Leadership is a choice - Even when thrust into an unknown situation, true leaders make the conscious decision to lead and help others. It isn’t about leading for control, it is about who is the most capable of making the right decisions for the betterment of everyone in any given situation.
Good leaders promote psychological and physiological safety by encouraging and sharing their true feelings and thoughts. Also by listening attentively. This allows everyone the ability to be heard and feels that they have contributed. It also allows you, the leader, to truly learn and see the value of those around you. Great leaders make it easy for others to be themselves!
Seeks to understand - Excellent leaders work hard to understand those around them. This starts with learning the ability to ask the right questions. Understanding human behavior can help you develop a level of empathy and emotional intelligence that will be invaluable in improving your interpersonal and comprehension skills.
Great leaders show empathy, compassion, and gratitude - True leadership is not about being in charge, it’s about taking care of those we lead. It’s important to be concerned about the actual person and not just their output.
Leaders always want to improve and grow - Continuous improvement shouldn’t only be a key tenet for how you grow your business. It should be a foundational way that you approach every day of your life. There will always be a type of new technology, management style, socio-political-economic point of view that will affect your business outcomes AND the richness of your relationships. That innovative mindset will give you the cutting edge.
Passion and The will to succeed - Consistency and dogged pursuit of one’s goal even in the face of adversity has been a hallmark of many of our most renowned and celebrated leaders. It is no secret, the drive to succeed and the unwavering belief in oneself has produced many of the most groundbreaking products and services in our modern times.
As an HR Leader and Executive/Leadership and Life Coach, I am passionate about helping other leaders build trust, create inclusion, and guide with positive influence, efficiency, and impact.
Book a call with me today and start one of my Coaching programs to get you on your path to being the best leader you can be!