The Best Leaders Possess This Rare Combination Of Traits: Here's How You Can, Too

Think about your favorite leader. It could be your former or current boss, a titan of industry, or maybe a friend or colleague that everyone seems to admire. Chances are, that person possesses a rare yet winning combination of two essential traits you may not have considered before: being perceptive and positive.

And before you dismiss the combination as being too simple or soft for business, let's break down each of those qualities to see how you can use them to boost your leadership potential:

Perceptive

When you're perceptive, you are good at understanding things or figuring things out. Perceptive people are insightful, intelligent, and able to see what others cannot. They envision the possibilities, embracing what could be, rather than being satisfied with the status quo of what is. While some seem to have this talent innately, others can employ their soft skills to help them become more perceptive like the leaders they admire.

Sir Richard Branson believes listening sets him apart because it makes him sensitive to his team's needs, allowing him also to be highly responsive. Oprah Winfrey relies on her awareness of others to fuel her ability to truly "see" people beyond the fa?ade of their armored shells (or even their words) and then uses those observations to ask probing questions to understand better what matters most to them. Even hard-charging VaynerMedia founder Gary Vaynerchuk cites empathy as his top leadership skill because he knows the power of understanding his audience—whether a partner, colleague or customer—is paramount to his business success.

In other words, these perceptive leaders realize that it's not about them, and know that to communicate and connect, they must put other people's needs first.

Positive

Positive leaders tend to have a growth mindset, or one in which they believe they can—and will—improve, and see every opportunity as a chance to grow and learn. Maintaining this attitude also helps remind leaders to be grateful and to pay attention to all the good things in their lives. And it is their positive energy that sets the tone and culture of their companies.

In contrast are leaders who have a fixed mindset, or one in which they believe intelligence or talent are set in stone. Not surprisingly, they lack adaptability. These individuals tend to think that it's their way or the highway, rule by fear, and establish an environment where people in their orbit dread interactions with them. While this style of leadership may work in a political dictatorship, it can fail miserably in business.

Ironically, the most confident (and successful) leaders care less about themselves and more about their people. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has led a cultural and strategic transformation of the tech giant. Warren Buffet, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, leads 300,000 employees with a values-based, hands-off style that gives managers wide leeway and incentivizes them like owners. And former CEO Alan Mullally cited regular collaboration with others as fundamental to his turn around of Ford.

By practicing positivity, leaders tend to be more curious and tolerant of new ideas and people and are less like to be thrown off course because of an unexpected setback. They empower others to make decisions. And their openness builds trust naturally, which allows them to connect with others more easily.

While being a leader who combines perceptiveness and positivity may be rare, it isn't unattainable. By emulating those leaders who demonstrate these qualities, we can all aspire to become more like them.

This article first appeared on Forbes.com.

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?Amy Blaschka is a social media ghostwriter who helps leaders communicate and connect better. Contact her if you'd like her help.?

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