I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to share an article I read about leadership. Here are a few highlights:

What makes a good leader in 2024? Is it nature, or is it nurture?

This question has been a matter of ongoing debate for many years. Back in the mid-1800s it was commonly believed that leaders were born with inherent traits and personal characteristics associated with leadership, and that only those who are naturally endowed could be effective leaders.

Thankfully, we now know this to not be the case.

While it remains true that some people are gifted naturally with leadership qualities, it is indeed possible to observe and learn traits and behaviours and model them within your role, which leads to successful outcomes in your leadership career and within your workforce.

So, if you're aspiring to be a leader or manager, it's highly likely that you fall out of that 10% range. Does this mean that you should abandon the idea of pursuing your career path in leadership altogether? Certainly not. Instead, concentrate on acquiring and practicing good leadership qualities, remembering that leadership traits can be learned.

Many of the personal characteristics and behaviors identified in Gallup's research, which convey strong leadership ability, are still highly relevant today. Below, let's explore some of the qualities of a good leader which they identified:

1. Confidence

When referring to confidence, it's essential to understand what type of confidence is here under discussion. This is not referring to arrogance, ego, or authoritarian leadership, in which you refuse to listen to others or take

Being confident as a leader means being comfortable in your skin, being authentic and true to a guiding set of principles and moral values, while inspiring others with confidence and trust in your leadership. For others to have confidence in you as a leader, especially if they've never worked with you before or if you have a relatively fresh track record, takes some time and patience on your part.

Another key aspect of confidence as a personal leadership trait is knowing how to inspire and motivate your team to do the right thing, because they will then be fully equipped and empowered by you with all the resources and knowledge they need to be confident in their roles.

2. Charisma

We traditionally associate the most effective leaders with mind-blowing, boundless energy and charisma. We envision leaders as always being visibly animated and enthusiastic, and constantly being the lifeline of the company. This unfortunately tends to exclude more introverted, quieter personalities.

While extroverted, radiant energy is highly motivating within the workplace from a leadership perspective, it's useful to remember that there are many leaders—past and present—who performed their roles exceptionally well and were able to engage their followers and employees, while being introverts. Some examples of this include tech titans, non-profit leaders, and civil rights activists such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Wendy Kopp, Elon Musk, and Rosa Parks.

This is why it's essential to understand the other side of charisma: quiet charisma.

Quiet charisma is when you leverage your introverted nature and have (or develop) a strong ability to listen, reflect, empathize, and be observant. This subtle charm can work wonders within your role as a leader.

3. Resilience

Resilience in the face of adversity is an essential leadership trait you need to be successful, and to sustain that success. This is because your role as a leader will often entail facing challenges and setbacks—in your personal life, in your career, and in the business.

How you bounce back from adversity, maintain team morale and your own personal motivation during difficult times, and motivate your team to remain focused on your collective goals and objectives, will determine your effectiveness as a leader.

Being resilient also means that you think ahead and plan strategically, taking into account previous failures and using these as a means of growth and continuous improvement.

Want to know more? Head on over to the full article here for more ideas and perspectives. Afterwards, why not drop me an email to share your thoughts at robert@businessvaluepartners.com.au; or call me on 0467 749 378.

Thanks,

Robert