15 vital Leadership qualities that defines a great Leader

Welcome to the 5th edition of the newsletter.

In today's fast-paced VUCA environments, effective leadership is more crucial than ever before. Leaders play a pivotal role for the organization success. Whether stearing a fortune 50 company or leading a small team, the qualities of a leader remains the same. Yet, exceptional leaders are not born; they are crafted through conscious efforts on continuous learning, self-reflection and self-improvement.

This newsletter delves into 15 essential leadership qualities that can transform you to become a great leader. By embracing these traits, you not only enhance your leadership style but also set a high standard inspiring those around you. Invite you to embark on this journey to gain remarkable personal and professional success.

Have you ever worked under someone who inspired you to step beyond your comfort zone while making you feel valued and proud of your contributions?

Conversely, have you experienced working under someone who never gave you the recognition you deserved, leaving you feeling undervalued, incomplete and small despite your significant efforts ?

Most of us have encountered both types of leaders. I bet the feelings these experiences bring are unforgettable and each situation have imparted valuable lessons. I feel you have chance to gain significant insights working under a difficult boss. The strong emotions evoked under such experiences would leave a persistent impression making you more mindful of not developing certain kind of qualities within you.

There are certain non-negotiable qualities to become an effective leader. While most of us are aware of what sets great leaders apart, the real challenges lies in consiciously taking actionable steps to develop those missing qualities.

"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." – Ralph Nader

Transforming to a great leader involves cultivating various qualities that can inspire and motivate others.

Here are 15 key qualities, along with practical actionable steps:

1. Integrity

Take Action: Lead by example. Commit to being transparent about your decisions and take responsibility for your actions. Set and uphold ethical standards in all your interactions, big or small. Prioritize collective well-being over personal gain.

Book Recommendation : “The Speed of Trust” by Stephen M.R. Covey

2. Visionary Leadership

Take Action : Spend 30 minutes each week to reflect on and write down long-term goals for your team or organization. Align team's goal with the company’s broader goals, by fostering a sense of purpose and direction. Conduct SWOT analyses with your team to identify areas for improvement and long-term growth opportunities. Share these in team meetings to align everyone towards common objectives.

Book Recommendation : “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek

3. Empathetic Listening

Take Action : Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with team members to listen to their concerns and understand their personal and professional challenges. Practice active listening by summarizing what they say and asking follow-up questions.

Book Recommendation : “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown

4. Effective Communication

Take Action : Join a public speaking group like Toastmasters to improve your communication skills. Practice clear and concise communication in emails and meetings by outlining key points and expected outcomes. Remember rigor communication comes only through practice.

Book Recommendation : “Crucial Conversations” by Kerry Patterson

5. Decisiveness

Take Action : Use a decision-making framework, such as the Eisenhower Matrix, to prioritize tasks and make decisions promptly. Ensure your choices aren't based on your conscious and unconscious bias. Involve your team in decision-making processes to gain their perspectives and build consensus.

Book Recommendation : "Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

6. Adaptability

Take Action : Challenge yourself by taking on a new project or learning a new skill outside your comfort zone. Encourage your team to embrace change and acquire new skills. Practice being calm and composed while sailing through stress and unexpected challenges.

Book Recommendation : "Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" by Spencer Johnson

7. Emotional Intelligence

Take Action : Practice mindfulness or meditation for a few minutes each day to increase self-awareness. Take an emotional intelligence assessment to identify areas for improvement and work on managing emotions effectively. Reflect on your emotions and behaviours regularly.

Book Recommendation : “Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman

8. Passion and Confidence

Take Action : Be passionate to achieve your workplace goals. Prepare thoroughly for presentations and meetings to build your confidence. Set small, achievable goals and acknowledge your successes to boost self-confidence over time. Engage in positive self-talk and discard limiting beliefs. Share stories of successful people and case studies that demonstrates risk taking and overcoming challenges.

Book Recommendation : “Creative Confidence” by Tom Kelley and David Kelley

9. Resilience

Take Action : Develop a personal resilience plan, including regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy stress management techniques. Give importance to self-care. Split the day into three 8 hour slots to focus on a) Productive work, b) Good sleep and c) Self work (hobbies, family time, ME time, entertainment,etc). Encourage your team to do the same by promoting work-life balance and offering support during challenging times.

Book Recommendation : “Grit” by Angela Duckworth

10. Accountability

Take Action : Establish clear performance metrics and regularly review progress with your team. Encourage a culture of accountability by being open to feedback and demonstrating a willingness to learn from mistakes.

Book Recommendation : “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

11. Humility

Take Action : Admit when you don’t have all the answers and seek input from your team. Acknowledge the contributions of others and give credit where it’s due.

Book Recommendation : "Good to Great" by Jim Collins

12. Growth Mindset

Take Action : Organize regular team-building activities and social events to strengthen relationships and foster a collaborative environment. Invest in networking and create meaningful connections. Identify mentors for yourself and implement mentorship programs to support professional growth within your team.

Book Recommendation : “Mindset” by Carol S. Dweck

13. Creative problem-solving & promote innovation culture

Take Action : Schedule brainstorming sessions where team members can freely share ideas without judgement. Promote out-of-box thinking. Cultivate analytical mindset to evaluate the problem across various dimensions. Encourage innovation by rewarding creative solutions and fostering an environment where experimentations are welcome.

Book Recommendation : “Thinking, Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman

14. Appreciation & Gratitude

Take Action : Practice sharing appreciation and gratitude genuinely in team meetings. Acknowledge team's hardwork verbally and through formal recognition programs. Look for opportunities to appreciate your team for those who play out of comfort zone, high performers, extra mile travellers, etc. Practice gratitude journaling. Learn to say 'Thankyou' often & celebrate small wins.

Book Recommendation : "The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life" by Janice Kaplan

15. Positive attitude and Respect

Take Action : Maintain a positive outlook to spread optimism within the team. Treat everyone in your team with respect. In team meetings, treat everyone with same level of respect irrespective of experience level. Hear everyone's opinion and value feedback from your team. Learn to give respect to gain respect.

Book Recommendation : “Leaders Eat Last” by Simon Sinek

"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." – Ronald Reagan

By incorporating these actionable steps into your daily routine, you can gradually develop the qualities of an inspirational leader, transforming your managerial role into a leadership position. Plan for a self-reflection, honestly rating yourself against these leadership qualities. Grab the recommended books to improvise of the areas where you have a scope for improvement.