SKILLS THAT A LEADER NEEDS TODAY (Part 3)

The final article of the 3 Part series sets down, in my opinion, the most defining leadership traits and sets a great leader apart from the rest. Click here to access Part 1 and Part 2.

In the concluding part of the series, I explore:

Humility: Humility, as a trait is priceless, and only the rare ones possess this trait. Extensive research shows how modesty and humility help leaders to develop and sustain their company's market position. Humility isn't the very first trait that will come to mind when we think about leadership. Humility gets overshadowed by some of the other more celebrated leadership traits of the notable leadership qualities. Humble leaders recognize that their work is about making a positive impact and for a purpose that is bigger than them. They lead to transform, not to dominate.  

Compassion: "Compassion doesn't weaken leadership; it makes it stronger" - Rudy Giuliani. Leadership is about having the ability to relate to and connect with people to inspire and empower the people you touch. Compassion is the ability to understand every stakeholder and address their aspirations, hopes, concerns, and fears. "If compassion was the motivating factor behind all our decisions, would our world not be a completely different place?" - Sheryl Crow

Passion: The Passion for doing something extraordinary is what makes great leaders. Passionate leaders are also lifelong learners; this trait keeps them hungry and allows them to look at possibilities to get better at what they do every day. Passion also does not allow them to settle for anything less while giving it everything they can offer. Most of us would have experienced the force when we meet a passionate leader; the energy is infectious. Inspirational leaders are fully committed to helping others achieve their goals and recognize that their success depends on the success of others. 

Resilience: To sail through thick and thin, a leader must be, if nothing else, resilient. Such types of leaders are perceptive and understand how to manage themselves in any bad or good situation. They elevate their energy levels under extreme pressure and challenging situations while responding to disruptive changes. Leaders with resilience view failures as minor setbacks and display grit and tenacity to bounce back quickly.

Empowerment: Great leaders can empower their people by allowing them to make decisions by utilizing the power of their knowledge, experience, and judgment to create solutions. Increased decision-making goes a long way in improving individuals' self-esteem and confidence levels while significantly improving their commitment to the organization. Empowerment builds better loyalty amongst people towards what they do, as it allows every person to bring their best to the table. Creating a shared sense of ownership, vision, and trust amongst people is a great way to build a healthy, positive, and successful organization.

Accountability: Owning what you need to do and what you need other people to do is accountability. Making people value their work by making them accountable for their actions and helping them learn the impact of the work they do will make them understand how their behaviors and actions could impact the rest. Leaders should own up to their mistakes, ask for assistance wherever needed, and take and give constructive and honest feedback.

Spirituality: A leader should look to apply spiritual values and principles to the workplace. Spirituality plays a vital role in reinforcing personal, team, and organizational values. Spiritual leadership also inculcates the idea of people working beyond their roles for the common good of others. Viewing anything that one does as a spiritual calling helps leaders bring their authentic self to anything they get involved in life and make life easier and joyful to navigate.

There is possibly no human being who has all the traits listed in all three articles. As I mentioned in my opening remarks in Part 1 of the series, these are traits that I have been fortunate to see and, in some cases, imbibe from people whom I have had the opportunity to interact with over the last few years.  

Out of all the traits that we discussed, what are your favorite top three leadership traits?