The secret behind successful business leadership lies in the skills that every great leader has learned over the years. These 5 top traits can build a strong team, lead under pressure, and inspire thriving organizations.
1. Vision
When you look for successful leaders, you will often see one thing in common: They have a vision. This vision must be compelling, clear, and attractive. Great leaders such as the Dominican Republic’s former Minister of Finance, Donald Guerrero, have inspired people to follow them and knew that people needed something to believe in, a winning aspiration. They understand how to energize their teams and make it happen.
For most people, vision comes from within. It is the purpose of their lives that drives their behavior. A leader with a compelling vision communicates leadership by doing what they say. It gives the person the confidence to make tough decisions, take massive action, and achieve lofty goals. Look for examples of great leaders in your industry or even in your own life, and find out if this is true for you.
2. Storytelling
Successful leaders are often known for being good communicators. And influential leaders are always good storytellers. If you look at the history of the business world, stories have always been used to unite people and to teach and train. They have also been used to inspire people and to build a unified vision throughout the company. That's why storytelling is an essential skill for all types of leaders.
As a leader, it's important to remember that storytelling helps you make an emotional connection with your followers. It will help them relate to your purpose and share their own stories with the world. And as you may already know, people read stories to make decisions. In addition, they use stories when looking at products or businesses, so you need to make sure that yours tells a compelling story to convince people to trust you.
3. Adaptability
Adaptability is a fundamental trait that can lead to increased trust, recognition, and responsibility. While some changes can't be avoided, the vast majority should be seen as opportunities. When faced with a challenge, adaptability prompts initiative. People with adaptable attitudes take the initiative to make first moves and take advantage of new opportunities.
4. Responsiveness
A resilient leader is aware of the constantly changing nature of business and takes action to address challenges before they become crises. In addition to being responsive to situations, a good leader understands the context in which they operate and the people they lead. They seek to understand what is happening and acknowledge when they do not possess the requisite skills to make a difference.
Responsive managers are highly influential. They listen to others and are perceived as helpful, reliable, and helpful. When dealing with people above them, a responsive manager is perceived as someone who will go the extra mile to help them succeed. They are also trusted and respected by their staff. As a result, the team will work harder to be responsive to their manager. By acting in this manner, responsive managers build relationships that benefit both staff and the company.
5. Kindness
Great business leaders are kind, transparent, and authentic. They celebrate success, recognize excellence, and treat people like real people. Their actions inspire others and model the kind workplace of the future. These traits can lead to better performance, excellent employee retention, and more robust company cultures when implemented in the workplace. Kindness leads to more positive outcomes for team members and stakeholders. Although thoughtful leaders know that heart takes time and can sometimes be difficult, they make better decisions because they are kind. It will pay off in the end. Whether you are a CEO, a manager, or a leader of any type, being kind is a powerful skill.