5 Qualities of Exceptional Leadership

What is the definition of a leader? Well, as per the Oxford Dictionary, “A leader is a person who leads a group of people, especially the head of a country, an organization, etc.” But, is that it? Is a leader just there to lead a bunch of people coming together to work? 

I feel, ‘Leader’ is a very underrated term when it comes to understanding its real meaning and imbibing its true essence in our lives. As per my understanding, a leader is a person who keeps a team together and seeks ways to solve a particular problem without compromising the team’s comfort and confidence. He/she is a glue that keeps a team of varied kinds of people united to enhance their performance while aiming to reach a single goal. 

When we speak about leadership or leadership quality, we are particularly talking about the skill or ability of a person to encourage, influence, and guide others to lead the way seamlessly. 

However, leaders are a pure result of hard work, persistence, empathy, and confidence. An individual can acquire leadership quality by training himself/herself to be a person of action, words, and deeds. Today, we will be discussing the 11 qualities of a leader and how one can attain these leadership qualities. 

5 Qualities of Exceptional Leadership

• Unwavering Courage

A person who isn’t confident and courageous enough will never be accepted as a leader. Whether you talk about an organization or an institution, an intelligent person will only follow a person who is confident enough to lead a team. Simply put, if you cannot control your fears and self-doubt, you cannot help others to do the same. You can take risks, make hard decisions and complete a task on time only if you are confident enough to trust your actions, words, and deeds. 

Unwavering courage comes with self-respect and confidence in one’s ability to achieve the unachievable with persistence and determination. Once you start respecting yourself for what you are, you can easily give others the confidence to follow you as a leader. 

• Self-Control

Self-control is a quality that no one talks about, instead, just assume it to be there in every leader; however, the truth is just the opposite of it. A leader sharpens his willpower and decision-making skills via self-discipline. I think you all can agree with it!

Self-control is nothing but to train oneself to look beyond hard work, achieve goals regardless of emotions and feelings, stick to one’s decisions and evaluate the result of the decisions taken to put a light on the mistakes before it’s too late. This behavior encourages a team with trust and conviction. A team is a reflection of its leader, hence a leader’s self-discipline will inevitably be engraved in his/her team.

• A Keen Sense of Justice 

When it comes to leading a team of a bunch of people, or an institution, it’s imperative for a leader to be just in his/her decisions. Fair behavior allows the team to blindly trust you as a leader. When a leader reaches a position by using others as a stepping stone to move forward in life, he/she can barely get the respect he/she deserves. A just leader respects his peers and believes to move ahead by taking others along. 

• Definiteness of Decision

A leader with experience and knowledge can easily make decisions that prove to be right for the team; however, this does not mean that a leader cannot be at fault. A leader who can admit his/her mistake and discuss it with his team proves to a commendable leader. Decision-making ability is one of the most essential qualities of a leader that should not be neglected at any cost. 

• Definiteness of Plans

Imagine yourself working with a leader who constantly amends his plans leading to disastrous results. A leader who plans his work and works his plan is a marvelous leader. It is difficult for anyone to move according to one plan if research, knowledge, and experience are not put together. Hence, a leader who is well-experienced, learned, and knowledgeable will always plan and execute it accordingly. The team will definitely be confident about you and your decisions. What do you think?