Think back to the best boss you ever worked with. What were they like? Adaptable, confident, inspiring, resilient— if you’re asked to list the best characteristics of a leader, chances are these traits come to mind first. Although no two leaders are the same, because there’s no one set definition of a good leader, there are certain traits and characteristics successful business leaders have in common.
A leadership mindset refers to attitudes, beliefs, and expectations that are the foundation of who you are, how you lead, and how you interact with others. Cultivating this mindset is important because it’s the driving force of everything you do as a leader. From the decisions you make to how you impact your colleagues and workplace, developing and strengthening your mindset is the first step to being a successful leader.
What Makes a Good Leader?
The road to leadership seems straightforward at first. Take the traditional corporate ladder— an employee follows a linear path with promotions over time until they reach a higher position within a company. On a surface level, it’s easy to assume the employee is now a leader. But what skills do they bring to the business? How do they interact with others? What sets them apart?
Leadership is more than just a job title or the act of managing a team. It might come as a surprise, but contrary to popular belief, some of the greatest business leaders weren’t born with natural leadership skills. The skills and qualities of a leader are often developed through hard work, patience, and a lot of experience and practice. But what are these key qualities?
Key Qualities of Business Leaders
Accountable
The best leaders take personal responsibility for business goals and outcomes. They also assume responsibility for their team. Leaders who display accountability accept responsibility for their actions, take necessary steps to rectify mistakes, give credit where it’s due, and inspire employees to follow their lead.
Adaptable
It’s no secret working in business can be stressful. It comes with constant changes and a unique set of challenges. So naturally, it’s not easy being the one in charge when others are looking to you for guidance. But when you’re the leader, you can’t let obstacles dishearten you. That’s where being adaptable comes in. Good leaders recover quickly from difficulties, embrace sudden change, and push forward in times of hardship.
Confident
When it’s time to make big decisions that come with risks, leaders need to have the confidence to act decisively and be calm and resolute in high-stakes situations. A confident leader empowers employees. They model behaviour that’s inspirational to encourage their team to tackle challenges, think strategically, and get back up when they’re knocked down.
Effective Communicator
Great leadership is all about communication. Without it, you won’t be able to get through to people. A great leader is present and gives full attention at every interaction, actively listens to others and understands their needs and perspectives, states clearly what needs to be done, delegates tasks effectively, asks their team for feedback, and provides honest feedback.
Tips on Developing a Leadership Mindset
Once you think about the kind of leader you want to become and consider the different leadership styles and key skills you want to develop, you can start taking small steps to hone the qualities of a good leader.
Reflect On Yourself
No matter what stage of your career you’re in, whether you’re starting out or have a few years of experience under your belt, regular reflection is important.
Ask yourself:
- What are my strengths and weaknesses?
- What opportunities are there for me to improve personally and professionally?
- What have I done well this week?
- What could I have done better this week?
The self-awareness to recognise what you do well and where you could improve is crucial to professional development. With this insight, you can map out a development plan by setting tangible goals to improve certain skills and hold yourself accountable for achieving progress.
Embrace Change and Keep Learning
Leadership isn’t a destination— it’s a journey. The business landscape is constantly changing which means you also have to be changing with it, otherwise you’ll be left behind. Learn to keep an open mind and embrace the changes as they come. Consider reading leadership books, listening to informative podcasts, taking leadership workshops or industry-specific training, and staying up to date with the latest tech and industry developments.
Be Open to Feedback
Open communication is the cornerstone of effective leadership. When you’re communicating, you need to provide space for others to communicate back. A two-way dialogue is a great way to show you’re open to feedback and willing to listen, learn, and adapt. Constructive feedback makes it easier to build trust with employees and enhance your decision-making.
Find a Mentor
Finding a mentor who serves as a role model and guide can be a valuable way for aspiring leaders to gain industry insights, feedback, and advice based on the mentor’s experiences, setbacks, and successes. Finding a mentor could require you to engage with other professionals through platforms like LinkedIn or networking and conference events.