Leadership Can Be Learned and Refinement is Possible
In the business world, outstanding leaders are not necessarily those with high-ranking positions but rather those who effectively connect with their teams.
According to John C. Maxwell, author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, it’s possible to identify, develop, and refine personal characteristics to enhance leadership skills.
The Qualities of a Leader
Maxwell explains that to identify the most prominent qualities of a leader, he had to interview leaders who have impacted history and the recurring characteristics they exhibit.
Top 10 Leadership Qualities
1. Character: Character influences how leaders handle certain situations, like an emergency, and guide those in need.
Maxwell asserts that character is built through daily decisions and how challenging situations are faced.
2. Commitment: People follow leaders who are committed, as it conveys confidence and transparency.
True commitment inspires and attracts people. It shows that you have convictions. They will believe in you only if you believe in your cause.
3. Courage: Leaders may feel fear, but courage is characterized by doing things despite the fear.
Moreover, when a leader is courageous, they inspire others to progress despite fear or uncertainty.
4. Confidence: To be an inspiration and source of trust, one must be confident in themselves.
“What’s ironic is that those who lack the courage to risk don’t experience less fear in life. The only difference is that those who don’t risk worry about trivial matters. If you’re going to face your fear and doubts anyway, make it worthwhile.”
5. Self-discipline: Individuals who are more disciplined are those who achieve their goals through routines that manage time effectively.
In the business realm, self-discipline enables leaders to meet objectives, prioritize tasks, and sustain long-term results.
6. Charisma: The advantages of charisma are that it attracts people and instills hope. Charismatic leaders prioritize others’ interests before their own.
“They are happy, optimistic, not complainers. They are passionate about life. If you want to attract others, you must be the kind of person you enjoy being around.”
7. Discernment: Those seeking the root of problems are those with the ability to discern and base their decisions on rational thinking.
In other words, they focus on problem-solving through intuition, intellect, and the courage to seek help from their team and organization.
8. Communication: Effective communication is crucial for leadership. Those with this quality focus on active listening and clear, direct communication.
Remember, the goal of all communication is action. If you simply dump information on people, you’re not communicating. Every time you speak to people, give them something to feel, remember, and act on.
9. Generosity: Generosity stems from the heart, with good intentions, and leaders prioritize others’ needs.
In this sense, generosity develops when the focus is on giving rather than receiving.
10. Service: Related to the previous points, being servant-oriented is an initiative found in leaders who connect better with people.
“Few will serve if forced to do so. Some may serve in a crisis. However, what’s evident is the heart of someone who takes the initiative to serve others. Great leaders see needs, seize opportunities, and serve without expecting anything in return.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What does Maxwell mean by ‘character’ in leadership? Character influences how leaders handle situations and guide others. It’s built through daily decisions and facing challenges.
- Q: Why is commitment important for leaders? Committed leaders inspire confidence and transparency, encouraging followers to believe in their cause.
- Q: How does courage manifest in leadership? Leaders may feel fear, but courageous leaders do things despite their fear and inspire others to progress similarly.
- Q: What role does confidence play in leadership? Confident leaders are trustworthy and inspire others. Lack of confidence can limit growth due to constant validation-seeking.
- Q: How does self-discipline benefit leaders? Self-disciplined leaders effectively manage time, meet objectives, prioritize tasks, and sustain long-term results.
- Q: What is the significance of charisma in leadership? Charismatic leaders attract people, instill hope, and prioritize others’ interests.
- Q: How does discernment aid leaders in problem-solving? Leaders with discernment focus on problem-solving through intuition, intellect, and seeking help from their team and organization.
- Q: Why is communication vital for leadership? Effective communication ensures action, focusing on active listening and clear, direct messaging.
- Q: How does generosity contribute to leadership? Generous leaders prioritize others’ needs, fostering trust and connection.
- Q: What does it mean for a leader to be servant-oriented? Servant leaders take the initiative to serve others without expecting anything in return, connecting better with their teams.
