Characteristics Of A Good Leader

Here are 10 essential characteristics of a good leader:

1. Honesty
A good leader will be able to establish an honest connection with his or her peers. A relationship
based on trust and reliability makes the team know that their leader is always there for them,
which in turn inspires them to be there for their leader.
2. Ability To Delegate
Each person in a group will be able to bring something different to the table, and a good leader
will work with each member’s strengths and weaknesses in order to make sure that the best is
being done.
3. Ability To Communicate
By clearly describing his or her idea to their team, the leader will be able to create a sense of
ease and understanding with his peers. When every member of the team is striving towards a
common goal, then there is nothing that cannot be accomplished.
4. Sense Of Humor
Negative situations will always arise, but a good business leader will know how to diffuse them
and help give his team peace of mind. A stress-free work environment often garners the most
results, and sometimes all that is necessary to help push your team forward is a healthy dose of
humor in the face of difficulty.
5. Confidence
A good leader will show confidence in the face of challenges, and will inspire confidence in his
team by reminding them that obstacles are just there to be overcome. The confident leader will
keep his eye on the goal and will not allow anything deter him or her, or their team, from success.
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6. Commitment
Some leaders may drive their teams to work hard, while others will constantly be at their sides,
giving every task their one hundred percent. The latter is the type of leader that can expect to
achieve more. Teams work better when they see that the one that they answer to is right by their
side, sharing their struggles and triumphs.
7. Positive Attitude
Motivation is the key to success, and it can be hard to stay motivated in a negative environment.
By keeping your team’s spirits up, you will be able to motivate them to achieve more, and not let
them be bothered by minor setbacks.
8. Creativity
Sometimes a difficult situation will arise that will require you to think outside of the box and help
your team do the same. At such crucial movements, a good leader will be able to demonstrate a
unique type of creativity that can help his team push through any situation.
9. Ability To Inspire
Inspiration can take many forms, but a capable leader will be able to demonstrate his ability to
lead and inspire by motivating his team to share his vision.
10. Intuition
Finally, a good leader will have intuition. Sometimes obstacles will arise that nobody will know
how to handle, perhaps even you. In such situations, it is important to be confident and make a
decision. No matter what the decision is, if you show that you are giving the problem everything
you have got, it will inspire your team to do the same, which can often be just all that is needed to
help get past the situation to begin with.
For a more detailed explanation of what it takes to be a good leader, check out the infographic
created by Norwich University Organizational Leadership program below.
Everybody defines leadership differently but I really like the way John C Maxwell defines
leadership, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Irrespective
of how you define a leader, he or she can prove to be a difference maker between success and
failure. A good leader has a futuristic vision and knows how to turn his ideas into real-world
success stories. In this article, we take an in-depth look at some of the important leadership
qualities that separate good leaders from a bad one.

1. Honesty and Integrity

The 34th President of United States, Dwight.D.Eisenhower once said, “The supreme quality of
leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it
is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” Honesty and integrity are two
important ingredients which make a good leader. How can you expect your followers to be
honest when you lack these qualities yourself? Leaders succeed when they stick to their values
and core beliefs and without ethics, this will not be possible.

2. Confidence

To be an effective leader, you should be confident enough to ensure that other follow your
commands. If you are unsure about your own decisions and qualities, then your subordinates will
never follow you. As a leader, you have to be oozing with confidence, show some swagger and
assertiveness to gain the respect of your subordinates. This does not mean that you should be
overconfident, but you should at least reflect the degree of confidence required to ensure that
your followers trust you as a leader.

3. Inspire Others
Probably the most difficult job for a leader is to persuade others to follow. It can only be possible
if you inspire your followers by setting a good example. When the going gets tough, they look up
to you and see how you react to the situation. If you handle it well, they will follow you. As a
leader, should think positive and this positive approach should be visible through your actions.
Stay calm under pressure and keep the motivation level up. As John Quincy Adams puts it, “If
your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a
leader.” If you are successful in inspiring your subordinates, you can easily overcome any current
and future challenge easily.

4. Commitment and Passion

Your teams look up to you and if you want them to give them their all, you will have to be
passionate about it too. When your teammates see you getting your hands dirty, they will also
give their best shot. It will also help you to gain the respect of your subordinates and infuse new
energy in your team members, which helps them to perform better. If they feel that you are not
fully committed or lacks passion, then it would be an uphill task for the leader to motivate your
followers to achieve the goal.

5. Good Communicator
Good Communicator - TaskQue BlogUntil you clearly communicate your vision to your team and
tell them the strategy to achieve the goal, it will be very difficult for you to get the results you
want. Simply put, if you are unable to communicate your message effectively to your team, you
can never be a good leader. A good communicator can be a good leader. Words have the power
to motivate people and make them do the unthinkable. If you use them effectively, you can also
achieve better results.

6. Decision-Making Capabilities

Apart from having a futuristic vision, a leader should have the ability to take the right decision at
the right time. Decisions taken by leaders have a profound impact on masses. A leader should
think long and hard before taking a decision but once the decision is taken, stand by it. Although,
most leaders take decisions on their own, but it is highly recommended that you consult key
stakeholders before taking a decision. After all, they are the ones who will benefit or suffer from
your decisions.

7. Accountability
When it comes to accountability, you need to follow the approach highlighted by Arnold H
Glasow when he said, “A good leader takes little more than his share of the blame and little less
than his share of the credit.” Make sure that every one of your subordinates is accountable for
what they are doing. If they do well, give them a pat on the back but if they struggle, make them
realize their mistakes and work together to improve. Holding them accountable for their actions
will create a sense of responsibility among your subordinates and they will go about the business
more seriously.

8. Delegation and Empowerment

Delegation and Empowerment - TaskQue BlogYou cannot do everything, right. It is important for
a leader to focus on key responsibilities while leaving the rest to others. By that, I mean
empowering your followers and delegating tasks to them. If you continue to micromanage your
subordinates, it will develop a lack of trust and more importantly, you will not be able to focus on
important matters, as you should be. Delegate tasks to your subordinates and see how they
perform. Provide them with all the resources and support they need to achieve the objective and
give them a chance to bear the responsibility.

9. Creativity and Innovation

What separates a leader from a follower? Steve Jobs, the greatest visionary of our time answers
this question this way, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” In order to get
ahead in today’s fast-paced world, a leader must be creative and innovative at the same time.
Creative thinking and constant innovation is what makes you and your team stand out from the
crowd. Think out of the box to come up with unique ideas and turn those ideas and goals into
reality.

10. Empathy
Last but certainly not the least, is empathy. Leaders should develop empathy with their followers.
Unfortunately, most leaders follow a dictatorial style and neglect empathy altogether. Due to this,
they fail to make a closer connection with their followers. Understanding the problems of your
followers and feeling their pain is the first step to become an effective leader. Even that is not
enough until you work hard and provide your followers with the suitable solution to their
problems.

Conclusion
To become a good leader, you must have all these qualities but if you lack some of these
qualities, then you might struggle to make the mark in the world of leadership. You will have to
set a good example for others to follow. That is where your commitment, passion, empathy,
honesty and integrity come into play. Good communication skills and decision-making
capabilities also play a vital role in success and failure of a leader. Lastly, innovation and creative
thinking, as well as the futuristic vision, are a couple of key traits which make a leader stand out.

https://blog.taskque.com/characteristics-good-leaders/

No one can say for certain. But one thing we do know: schools are under pressure to keep up with
the ceaselessly rapidfire changes occurring in our culture. It is difficult to prepare students for the
future when we have no way of knowing exactly what that future will be like.

In this context, educational leaders need a unique skill set to make sure that students get what they
need. The prevalence of technology inside and outside the classroom, as well as the increased
accountability for student achievement, have drastically changed the educational landscape.

Here are the skills that tomorrow’s educational leaders will need to keep up.

An understanding of student outcomes. Curriculum must evolve to reflect the skills that students will
need in the future. The educational leader of the future will understand the practices and
environment necessary for student achievement.

The ability to implement large-scale turnarounds. The bar is set increasingly high for student
achievement in numeracy and literacy. Educational leaders must institute programs that lead to
deep and lasting learning.

An understanding of the variety of tools available to educators. Educational leaders must have
knowledge of the array of available tools and the precise ways in which they can support teaching
and learning.

The ability and the desire to reform school culture. The leaders of the future must have a compelling
vision and a commitment to high standards, so that they can implement deep and lasting reform.

A commitment to quality professional development. The leaders and educators of tomorrow know
that they must learn something new every day to keep their methods fresh in changing times.
Knowledge of the best ways to support staff. Tomorrow’s leaders will understand what staff needs
to carry out school and district goals effectively.

An unwavering moral compass. The school leaders of the future have a strong social conscience and
always keep the best interests of students in the forefront of decision-making.

The ability to measure progress and success. As new tools are introduced, it’s important to evaluate
their effectiveness and their impact on student learning.

Personal use and exploration of new tools. The school leaders of tomorrow will model learning for
others by adding new tools to their own repertoire.

Emotional intelligence. When guiding their schools through disruptive changes, school leaders will
need to maintain strong relationships with students, teachers, parents and the community.

The future is a moving target, but one thing is clear: effective school leaders demonstrate courage,
care and determination. These qualities will serve our schools well in any culture or time period.

https://www.theedadvocate.org/10-essential-skills-education-leader-tomorrow/

All educators take on leadership roles. Teachers are the leaders of their classrooms. Principals are
the leaders of their schools. Every educator and administrator plays a part in leading tomorrow’s
future. How inspiring is that? Together, no matter what your role, you are all making a difference in
the lives of your students.

Want to be sure you’re being a good leader? Here are five of the most important characteristics any
effective educational leader should possess and demonstrate on a daily basis.

1. Self-aware

A good educational leader needs a solid understanding of oneself and should also have confidence.
When you believe in yourself, you can accomplish so much more. Have confidence in the decisions
you make, don’t be nervous, and don’t be afraid of what others may think. Plan how you’ll start each
and every day in ways that will lead your students, school, and colleagues in the right direction to
achieve their goals.

2. Excellent communication skills

You can’t lead a group of people if you don’t speak with others! The best educational leaders are
excellent communicators and know how to reach a variety of people in many different ways. For
instance, a principal might have one-on-one chats with teachers each week and also send out a daily
email update. This way, the principal takes the time to communicate in-person but also makes
communication convenient by emailing the teachers as well. No matter what your job title is at your
school, make sure you’re constantly communicating with your colleagues, students, and others.

3. Resourceful
To be an effective leader, you need to be resourceful and open to new ideas. Especially during tough
economic times, technology helps to change classrooms, and you need to be open to new ideas that
will improve the way students absorb and retain information. You also need to know how to use the
resources you have to the best of your ability—if you aren’t sure, ask someone in the know. Take an
online course. Get the answers you need; others around you will benefit greatly from this type of
leadership mentality.

4. Lead by example

The best leaders in the educational system make it a point to lead by example, and not simply by
words. It’s easy to spell out rules and dictate them from an ivory tower, but this type of leadership
will not have a large impact in your school. As an educator, you have so much influence on students.
If you want students to speak kindly to one another in the hallways, you must always speak kindly,
too. If you want your students to show respect, show them what that means. This method is
effective and powerful, and helps you teach students skills they will need for the rest of their lives.

5. Power of teaching and learning

Perhaps the most important trait of being an educational leader is believing in your students and the
power of education. If you don’t believe in your students or your colleagues, then everyone is
doomed for failure. It’s vital to believe in what your school is trying to accomplish each and every
day, and to convey your enthusiasm for change, your own motivation to make things better, and
your confidence in those around you. Your words and actions directly impact morale—show others
your passion for education, and they’ll feel it too.

There are obviously so many different characteristics and traits of a good leader, but these are a
great place to start if you’re stepping up to more of a leadership role in your school—whether that’s
in your classroom, on a sports team you coach, or within your district. Show ’em what you got.

https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/leaders-link/five-traits-of-a-good-educational-leader/

Virtually every success—regardless of one’s occupation—can be achieved through leadership. How

do people get ahead in their careers? Leadership. When tensions flare, how do cooler heads prevail?
Again, through leadership, displaying the kinds of characteristics that have come to define this highly
sought-after personality trait.