You're not a leader if you don't do this

According to the Harvard Business Review, these are the “8 Essential Qualities of Successful Leaders”:

1.?????? Authenticity?

2.?????? Curiosity?

3.?????? Analytical Prowess?

4.?????? Adaptability?

5.?????? Creativity?

6.?????? Comfort with Ambiguity?

7.?????? Resilience?

8.?????? Empathy?

It’s a solid list. But these traits could describe a salesperson, consultant, data analyst, teacher, or countless other professions.

What’s missing is the essence of leadership.

Being a leader is more than embodying admirable traits. It’s about creating and championing a compelling vision.

Great leaders define a future so exciting and meaningful that it inspires every team member to show up every day, energized and ready to make it happen.

Smart leaders go beyond top-down directives.

They actively gather input from every level of the organization, ensuring that everyone’s fingerprints are on the vision. When people see their ideas and contributions reflected in the mission, they’re more likely to be invested.

To do this, a leader has to be visible and accessible, stepping out of the executive office to connect with employees, either in person or virtually.

If they want real, unfiltered feedback from staff who have learned that corporate survival often means keeping their heads down and their mouths shut, they must first build trust.

Employees need to feel safe, knowing that sharing ideas or criticisms won’t risk their jobs.

After creating the vision, a leader must communicate it consistently and passionately. The vision should be inspiring enough to galvanize the team, and the leader should be ready to meet regularly with staff to understand and remove obstacles that hinder progress.

Great leaders possess many impressive qualities—but leadership itself requires one essential element: actually leading.