Traits of Successful Leaders

I like to surround myself with successful people; people who have achieved great things as well as those who are on track to doing so. By doing this, I am able to not only learn from the best, but understand what motivates and drives them, and what they define as ‘success.’

Over the years, I have come to realise that successful people all share common traits. They were not born with silver spoons in their mouths. True, they’re intelligent and focused. But they don’t have superpowers; they have determination, vision and purpose.

So what are the common traits of successful people? Here is what I have found…

Passion:

Successful people don’t just have interests; they have passions, and they devote themselves completely to them. If you don’t love what you do, you're probably not going to be motivated to go above and beyond, to innovate and to stand out in the workplace. But if you're passionate about your career, it will make putting time and effort into it pleasurable, not a chore.

Dedication:

Successful people didn’t get to where they are now without hard work and persistence to task. The most prosperous people bring their ideas to fruition, deriving just as much satisfaction from working through the complications and daily grind as they do from coming up with the initial idea. They know that a vision remains a meaningless thought until it is acted upon.

Successful people don’t sweat the small stuff; they are good at separating the valuable from the worthless. Productive people have a vision for the future – they are in it for the long haul by seeing what positive changes can be made for the future and work towards achieving those changes. Last but not least, achievement is gained by choosing their battles wisely; successful people do not sweat the small stuff but certainly jump into action when there is a real problem that must be solved.

Imperfection:

Successful leaders are not perfectionists. They do not waste time, energy and resources in trying to make everything ‘perfect’ instead, they realise and understand that they cannot do everything well all the time and instead, focus on what can be done well. They also realise that their to-do lists will never be completed…and they are okay with that. Sometimes you can be more productive by accepting that you're simply not going to get everything done.

Ambition:

Successful people dare to dream, but they make dreams a reality. Instead of aspiring to be the best in their section or organisation, they aspire to be the best in their State or country, and they let nothing stop in their way to achieving this goal. There’s always more, always better, always further to reach. These people are seemingly tireless, ultimately devoted and constantly curious.

Confidence and Faith:

Successful people believe in the purpose of their work which in turn, fuels their hard work and dedication to their cause.  They also believe that they will be successful, thereby allowing themselves to execute what is required. So, believing in your own success -- no matter how crazy your idea might seem -- is integral to achieving it.

Non-conforming:

Successful people have not gotten to where they are today by doing the same of what has been done previously. They have defied history and instead, forged a path never travelled before; they live outside the box and think differently to everyone else. While others stay within the bounds of their comfort-zone and invest all their energy in reinforcing existing beliefs, successful people challenge the status quo and expose themselves to new ideas.

Successful people also regularly expose themselves to a variety of different people, thereby gaining different perspectives and opportunities for growth. They keep an open mind, always listening to other opinions, using the information gained to make an informed decision.

Resilience:

Successful people put no time or energy into stressing about failure and instead, see failure as a small and necessary step in the process of reaching goals. They see failure as a stepping stone to success.

Prioritisation:

All successful people place a huge importance on managing their health and well-being, thereby ensuring they are able to tackle any and all situations that they face in a professional context. Essential health habits that successful people practice consistently are good sleep hygiene for positive effects on stress, focus, and mood, eating healthily and exercising regularly for improvement in energy levels and confidence. Most successful people also use exercise as a mechanism to strategise and think about work-related issues in a different light.

Particularly evident in successful women, it is important to schedule alone time the same way one plans meetings, family dinners and networking events. Successful people must make dedicated time to spend on themselves, away from work.

Risk-Takers:

Successful people understand risk. They are calculated risk takers, understanding when to stop playing it safe but ensuring not to make reckless decisions. They understand the balance between risk and opportunities, and know when to take a leap to pursue bigger and better things.  

Focus:

Successful leaders focus on solutions, not problems. They are able to overcome adversity and not sweat the small stuff, knowing that where they focus their attention determines their emotional state. By focusing on actions to better oneself and improve circumstances instead of fixating on problems that leads to negative feelings, successful leaders can create a sense of personal efficacy that produces positive emotions and improves performance.

Positivity:

Successful people have a history of setbacks; they know what disappointment feels like. However, they remain positive, and know how to deal with negativity that keeps them from getting down and staying down. They know the future will be bright for them.

Successful people are also the masters of their own happiness. They do not compare themselves to others and do not let anyone’s opinions denigrate their successes or actions. These people are true believers in that one’s self-worth comes from within.

Celebrate:

Successful people, women in particular, are able to celebrate other people’s successes as they are not worried about their relevance as they draw their self-worth from within. They are also able to express gratitude to those around them, acknowledging the support of the people around them every day, both professionally and personally. These abilities not only improve their social standing within their professional networks, it also fosters loyalty from staff.

Relationships:

Successful people know how to foster genuine relationships and retain them. They understand the importance of having a support network that will assist them with their career now and into the future.

Noting my age and sex, the next point is a difficult one to swallow, but one that I have found throughout my career.

Successful women marry well…or not at all

Successful women know the value of a true partnership. As Sheryl Sandberg observed in Lean In: "I don’t know of a single woman in a leadership position whose life partner is not fully -- and I mean fully -- supportive of her career." Those that do not marry will most definitely have a partner or family member who is supportive of what they do; someone that they can lean on when needed.

Habits:

Every successful person has daily habits that enable them to be productive. In particular, successful people are organised – they do not write superfluous emails or reschedule meetings – they decided what they want to do and then do it. The other habit of successful people is the need to be constantly learning. Successful people do not sty static - they are continually improving themselves, and use mentors and coaches to accelerate their improvement.

Penelope is an author, motivational and technical speaker, CEO and Chairwoman. Penelope uses her expertise in her fields and personal experiences as a road map to empower people and help them find their strengths, pursue their dreams and create success.