Leadership today plays a critical role in making the whole organization successful. Leaders must not only understand how to manage products or services but also the people. According to a survey by Gallup, only 22% of employees strongly agree that their leaders have a clear vision for the future. The smaller amount of leaders that have a clear vision indicates we need more good leaders with effective leadership.
So, what separates good leaders from the rest?
A Good Leader: What Makes Them One?
1) They have a clear vision that is communicated clearly
A leader who knows their vision and communicates it clearly knows what their main focus is and has a strong ambition to achieve it. They see the big picture and know the exact way to get there. This is why great leaders such as Sam Altman have reached multiple milestones in their careers as OpenAI’s CEO and also when working at Y Combinator.
He has also helped many startups grow and is now known for successful innovations, like the GPT models (including ChatGPT). He knows exactly how to guide and what to do to make sure everyone understands what direction their company is going in. This drives their team to achieve the right motivation to reach the important goals.
2) They understand the others before jumping into assumptions
Leaders who lack empathy are like robots, giving instructions without considering how their actions can impact others or situations. No humans would like to receive instructions from robots since they have no clear idea why certain things cannot be proceeded with and why some things should be prioritized.
Leaders who have empathy and emotional intelligence do not only think about reaching goals no matter what happens; they also think of their own team. Good leaders know that, in fact, the team is what makes things progress, and without them, business can grow much slower.
3) They are open, ready for change, and always looking to learn more
In business, constant change is fixed, and it will constantly happen in the future. Good leaders are flexible and adaptable to change. They would love to be open to new strategies, the way to approach things, and new technologies, and open to feedback because that is what makes them successful.
Additionally, they invest in personal and professional growth, making them admired by many. Unlike leaders who are stuck in their own approach, they would not even imagine that there is a better and more efficient method that could save them so much time and resources.
4) They own up to their actions, even if no one is looking
Good leadership comes from being honest and having accountability and integrity. Leaders who do the right thing will make people trust and rely on them. Even when a critical situation happens, people know that these leaders are able to find ethical ways to solve the issue. Thus, they are never overly panicked; instead, they feel calm and confident that they’re in good hands.
5) They lift others up and give their people the support to make them shine
Leaders know that even small actions like offering praise can have a huge impact. However, good leaders know the right time to give it, as constant praise can come off as insincere.
This is especially true when their teams are not receiving the recognition that they deserve through promotions or awards. Without meaningful actions behind the praise, it can make the team believe that the words are empty.
Not only that, good leaders never belittle others, not even disguised as a joke. They celebrate others, and with a combination of good leadership qualities, they are able to make their teams feel appreciated and valued.
Final Thoughts
A good leader inspires, guides, and uplifts, not just manages. In today’s competitive world, clarity, empathy, adaptability, integrity, and empowerment define what makes a leader a good leader. As organizations navigate the complexities of modern business, the demand for authentic and effective leadership has never been greater.
