10 Attributes That Define a Successful Leader

An effective leader often takes on a wide variety of roles and functions. That said, successful leaders share an abundance of attributes in common. These 10 basic traits and skills make it much easier to spot successful professionals and identify potential leadership qualities in others:

Having a vision. Having the ability to set goals for their own personal, professional, and corporate life.  Something With Numbers has some more information about attributes that define a successful leader.

Being creative in solving problems that arise throughout the day or project’s timeline. 

Being able to think well under pressure using rational decision-making skills that promote optimism during adversity. Focusing on others instead of himself/herself. 

Understanding the power of positive thinking in their performances and in their lives at home, work, and play. 

Being a good communicator. Utilizing empathy when dealing with others, especially when facing difficult circumstances or challenges that may result in personal injury or loss of life or property. 

Being a decisive leader that knows how to make fast decisions with the least amount of negative impact on team morale, productivity, and collaboration. 

Approaching problems from a different perspective instead of from a technical perspective. Having the ability to look at an issue from the perspective of a competitor or potential customer. 

Being able to lead by example. Being a selfless leader that puts the needs of others above his or her own needs. Having the right attitude with an optimistic mindset that helps to keep them moving forward even in their darkest or most stressful moments. 

You’ve probably heard of the attributes that successful leaders are said to possess, but what about the ones that they don’t? Every leader has their strengths, but often they’re weighed down by weaknesses. If you want to know what it takes to lead others on a path to success – and how not having these 10 attributes can stop you from reaching your goals – read on!

What is Success?

If we had to boil it down into one word, success is achieving goals or aspirations. But success doesn’t always feel like it’s happening; it can be hard sometimes when obstacles get in our way. So let’s take a look at some of the qualities that very successful people share (which will help you too).

What Makes a Successful Leader?

It’s important that we hear different perspectives, so I’ve come up with 10 qualities that potential leaders should consider. Here they are:

10 Attributes That Define a Successful Leader (Succeeding at Work): 

1. Ownership– The ability to own anything and everything you do is an essential quality for any leader. This means self-awareness, accountability, and commitment to excellence in all that you do. Every great leader has the ability to own their decisions (even if they’re wrong). 

They know their strengths and weaknesses; they’re honest with themselves; and they’re committed to getting results, above all else.

2. Honesty– A leader who is honest with themselves, honest with others, and honest with the circumstances they face will be more successful than someone who can’t admit their weaknesses. 

Hiding behind a fake persona or simply trying to look better than you are will catch up with you eventually.

3 . Authenticity – People are drawn to leaders who are real, genuine, and authentic. While you may need to put on your game face at work sometimes (in order to motivate employees), it is important that you remain genuine in all that you do. 

You can tell when people are being insincere or dishonest; it’s important that leaders are seen as trustworthy rather than manipulators who care more about themselves than anyone else.

4. Passion– Passion is the driving force behind any great leader. It can be difficult to stay passionate when you’re dealing with challenging situations, but this is the mark of a truly great leader. 

5 . Motivation – A good motivator knows how to lead by example; they don’t need to use fear or other aggressive tactics to get their employees working towards common goals. These highly effective leaders understand each individual’s expectations and motivations, and they make it easy for everyone to reach their desired outcomes (while staying motivated themselves). 

6 . Influence – The ability to get people to act in your favor isn’t something that every leader has, but it’s necessary if you want people working towards your visions and ideas. You must have a strong presence, an ability to understand how people work, and the ability to motivate your employees. 

7 . Communication – It is necessary for leaders to communicate with everyone involved in their leadership roles. This includes both one-on-one communication with employees as well as communication with a group of people. 

8 . Collaboration – A leader that isn’t willing to collaborate may run into problems when they’re trying to achieve a team goal, but a good leader knows that teamwork is the only way to ensure the best possible outcome. 

They can evaluate each member’s talent and use it as part of solving problems or reaching goals.

9 . Confidence – Confidence isn’t something that can be faked or forced. In order to be a successful leader, you must have confidence in yourself and your abilities. However, confidence isn’t just about you – it’s about being able to inspire confidence in others as well. 

People feed off their leaders’ energy and enthusiasm; you have to know that what you’re doing is the right thing, even if it’s difficult or challenging, and you have to instill this same belief in those who work with you.

10 . Commitment – This attribute ties all of the others together very nicely, because commitment is basically a commitment to success – to your vision and goals – but also a willingness to put in whatever hard work is involved.