Four Characteristics of an Admired Leader

Research has shown that there are four main characteristics that admired leaders show on a consistent basis. For our purposes, an admired leader is one that is willingly followed by others. By focusing on these four characteristics, you will increase your ability to lead others. This is true for top executives as well as entry level positions. The first characteristic is Honesty. This is the cornerstone of all behaviors shown by an effective leader. Without unprecedented honesty, the kind that makes you stand up and take notice, there cannot be effective leadership. This is not an easy task to master. You must choose your words carefully as well as the situation in which you bring up difficult issues. Next is Competency. A leader that is highly honest but also incompetent will go nowhere. They have to know what they are doing to instill confidence in those that are choosing to follow. One of the best ways to work on this characteristic is to find a mentor that you highly rega rd and develop a relationship with them to better your skills. Forward-focused is the next characteristic that must be displayed. The leaders need the ability to look into the future and plan for what is yet to be known. This is a challenging premise, but one that can be honed over time. Ask yourself, "where do we need to be in six months, eighteen months and 3 years"? Work backwards from where you want to be in order to develop a plan for the future. Finally, we have Inspiring. An effective leader must possess the ability to inspire others to act. Action equals results and that is what business depends on for success. One does not have to be the perfect public speaker to be inspiring. You can use several approaches such as video clips, excerpts from books or articles or simply have a consistent positive attitude. By focusing your development plan on these four areas, you will find your enhance leadership skills in a relatively short period of time.