5 Rare Signs That Will Tell You Someone Has Enormous Leadership Potential

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When you?type "What is leadership?" into Google's search engine, you?get over 1 million?results. The dictionary's own definition lands at the top. It says leadership is "the action of leading a group of people or an organization."

Don't discount the word action.?That's what it takes to walk the talk of good leadership.

While leadership?can be hard to define and may mean?different things to different people, we must have a barometer for measuring those actions.

Here's what I've found: True leaders serve others. That's their mantra, and that takes action and intent. You'll find five?rather rare characteristics?that result?in compelling human action that benefits others.

1. They exercise self-control.

A leader who practices restraint?receives far less attention and acclaim than a charismatic leader with a commanding presence but a short fuse.

Leaders who are patient demonstrate self-control; their behavior is steady, rational, and manageable. In conflict, they prioritize understanding others before seeking to be understood. They speak little, which gives them an advantage in communicating and diffusing someone else's anger.

2. They are selfless.

There are no rock star leaders seeking personal gain or glory in high-performing cultures. It's all about the team "W" (win) and there's?zero tolerance for company politics if you're a selfless leader.

Their "selfless excellence" focuses on the impact their employees can bring?to the company. Selfless leadership not only fosters teamwork and collaboration throughout a company, but also prevents the emergence of silos and barriers between departments, teams, or individuals, which can hinder innovation and impede collaboration.?

3. They know right from wrong.

Some refer to it as "moral intelligence," the mindset through which exceptional leaders tap into their values, purposes, and higher motivations. It's the source of the ability to differentiate between right and wrong.

They can rely on their intuition for guidance and discern at their core when things are starting to deviate from their intended purpose.?Such leaders exercise goodness, truth, and compassion from this higher plane.

4. They believe in their people.

Conventional thinking suggests that people must earn trust. However, in high-performing cultures, leaders are willing to give trust to their followers as a?gift,?even before it's earned. This is because they believe in their people—their strengths, abilities, potential, and commitment to the job.

5. They lead with practical love.

Fear is the opposite of love; when fear permeates an organization, it stifles creativity and innovation. Love here is actionable and noble: creating psychological safety, connecting with employees, caring for their well-being, and not just managing their work performance.

Your turn: When you think of strong leaders who serve well, what other examples would you add to this list? Leave a comment and let's learn from each other.

Last Call for Tomorrow's Half-Day Virtual Workshop

The next ‘From Boss to Leader’ Half-Day program is happening tomorrow, October 15th, between 11 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EST. If you're a manager or leader looking to enhance your leadership skills and apply what you learn immediately on the job, this practical, skills-based virtual workshop is for you. Click here for details and to register .

About Marcel Schwantes

Marcel Schwantes is a global speaker, executive leadership coach, author, podcast host , and syndicated columnist with a worldwide following. Follow him on Substack for articles, videos, leadership strategies, and more.