What are leadership characteristics? How do they differ from the actual leadership role? These are two very good questions I’m often asked. The way I see it, leadership is not a role or a title. It is how you think, feel and see yourself and how you act as a leader. That’s where attitude comes in. What you believe about yourself and the nature of leadership influences the way you lead.
What does this mean? Well, you can wait until you have the title of leader conferred upon you, or you can simply lead when the need is there. The problem with waiting for the title is that it doesn’t change who you are. It doesn’t give you a new set of specialised leadership skills. Usually, it doesn’t even mean you have leadership characteristics or skills at all! How often are people promoted to a leadership position based purely on their technical skills? Leadership isn’t a role, it’s an attitude.
Key leadership characteristics
There are a number of key leadership characteristics in leadership attitude.
Ability to view the entire project in detail.
If you want to have control over your team, you must keep in mind the clear objective of the project and all of its steps precisely defined. For this it is very useful to work with checklists that help to keep all the elements sharp.
The complete leader devotes full concentration to visualizing the entire project and making decisions at all times knowing the ultimate goal. This creates a legitimate authority with leadership characteristics that end up stimulating the whole group.
Be ready to solve any type of problem or task
It is not because one person has the role of leading others that they will sit idly by while others carry out the tasks. The conscientious leader knows that the ultimate goal is efficiency in delivering results, and for that she spares no effort. Whenever needed, they are ready to perform any project task, no matter what its nature.
“Going down” from the position of leader to perform elementary tasks does not affect them, as they are always free to go through all the activity levels distributed to their team. They know that leadership characteristics for success depends on being 100% connected with each one of the team and setting a good example.
Know that you are paid for what you “do” and not for what you know
Successful leaders, from experience, already consider that in the corporate environment there are 2 types of people: Those who expect to be paid for what they “know” and those who expect to be paid for their results. There are two completely different views that determine the performance of any collaborator. This is what we call “proactivity” and “reactivity”
Proactivity is a fundamental leadership characteristics of the personality trait of those who coordinate a work group. This employee profile is the most sought after by entrepreneurs because they ensure a good working environment in addition to building a solid foundation through a focus on the company’s productivity and sustainability.
A leader who estimates their fee based on their level of knowledge or experience loses track of their role within the company and is always at risk of being surprised by a notice of dismissal. It is necessary to work with a focus on results so that the company’s mission is always guaranteed and the leader knows how to assume this posture.
Encourage others in the group to lead too
A common problem in leadership characteristics is the fear of being passed over and this often leads a leader to make mistakes or fail to make important decisions during the course of the project. Any leader who fears being replaced by one of their followers runs the risk of seeing their fear come true.
A good leader prepares substitutes to whom they can delegate responsibilities because he knows that this way they can expand their leadership even more, giving more attention to several tasks at the same time.
They know they will be valued more for their ability to make others produce than for their own efforts. One of the personality traits of a successful leader is the high power to positively influence their employees, leading them to give their best and provide better services. The ability to delegate roles and encourage self-confidence in a subordinate is essential for every leader.
Above average creativity
The ability to imagine situations and create solutions for possible problems that may arise makes the leader an expert in people management. We are all emotionally affected by problems and difficulties, but a true leader is not let down because he trusts in his ability to create solutions to any type of problem.
Trust your creativity not only to solve problems, but also find better ways to stimulate your team, improve results, find more efficient models of processes, etc. A good leader has creativity as a strong trait in their personality and their followers admire them for that.
But just being creative doesn’t mean you’ll be successful. A seasoned professional knows that creativity only flows naturally when there is emotional control that allows you to be calm and worry-free.
Valuing the followers, without wanting the credit for themselves
Not expecting praise, positive comments, or gratification is a mature leader’s personality. Their values are nobler than simple success, money and status in the profession. It comes about by seeing the growth of people and the corporation as a whole.
That’s why they work with a spirit of solidarity and altruism because they knos that the results obtained from this attitude are more solid and longer lasting. This is where the leader gains true respect and appreciation from their followers, as they recognize that values in that suit are attributes of genuine authority.
The work environment improves a lot with this relationship of respect and consideration for the leader. These are human qualities that actually have the power to transform.
Total loyalty to the project and the team
This feature should be at the top of the list. A leader who is not loyal to their role, to their co-workers, below or above them, does not maintain leadership for long. Dedication and fidelity to work is a strong personality trait of a great leader. No one has as much power to respond to the progress of the project and the results of the work as they do.
It is this psychological force that directly influences the team members and causes them to be recognized as the “mind” of the project. this is acquired with time in the profession through struggles and achievements as a manager and collaborator.
Ability to be assertive
The effective leader acts by “stimulus” and not by fear instilled in the hearts of their followers. One who uses tyranny and seeks to flaunt strength and gain the dislike of their employees. A good leader does not need to assert their authority – except for their conduct of solidarity, understanding, sense of justice and wisdom.
Assertiveness is the ability to communicate in a way that influences the decision of others. But it depends on a moral developed through qualities acquired with hard work and loyalty. The orders received by someone who is assertive are much clearer and gain people’s approval. Cultivating this trait in the personality opens many doors in the leader’s path.
Simplicity
A competent leader does not need to rely on the “title” to earn the respect of their peers. Generally, someone who puts a lot of emphasis on asserting their title as a professional has very little to offer. The doors of the true leader’s room are always open and their work environment is without any formality or ostentation. Arrogance is one of the main causes of failure. If you want to be a recognized leader, avoid making these mistakes.
Emotional control
Finally, the most important practical skill. Emotional control must be trained and exercised daily for you to develop a strong personality trait.
Nobody respects an uncontrolled leader, this is a fact. Besides, your lack of control only affirms your inability.
Always looking for balance to face conflicts and manage them efficiently is on the high performance leader’s priority list. For this, she or he studies the psychology of teamwork and the science of behavior. They know that at any moment, situations can arise that lead them to react unexpectedly.
Maintaining emotional control is an essential condition for leadership.
Stepping up
A leadership attitude means stepping up when you see the need to lead. You might not be the highest ranking team member, nor might you be the longest serving; but you have something your team needs. You know how to lead them from where they are now to where they need to be. You don’t need a title.
Self-belief
Your leadership attitude is based on self-belief, and that comes from knowing yourself, and your strengths and weaknesses. This is what helps you decide when to lead and when to follow. In knowing what you’re truly good at, you can stand in your power and lead with confidence. You know you’re doing the right thing and your confidence inspires people to believe in you and follow. Remember, confidence is HOT!
Don’t accept the status quo
Just because things have always been done that way, it doesn’t follow that it’s still the right way today. You have a responsibility to step up and shake things up when you believe the time is right. How do you know when the time is right? You notice that productivity is dropping, work has stalled, or the morale of the team has dropped. You notice that no one knows what to do or is prepared to start change. The status quo is doing you no favours at all.
Give yourself permission to suggest and introduce your new ideas and processes. That’s what real leaders do. And if you’re worried about failure, put your faith in Brene Brown when she says “…there is no innovation and creativity without failure.”
Be inclusive
The leadership attitude is inclusive because it’s based on the knowledge that each one of us has leadership skills which will be needed at some time, and the more diverse the team, the more skills you will be able to tap into. It’s all about embracing our differences and valuing them, and not about meeting diversity targets. It’s about engaging everyone into the team and encouraging them to speak up and use their talents with confidence. What you’re also doing here is modelling your vision of leadership and teaching others that they can be leaders, too.
Be the change
People with leadership attitude don’t wait for change to come along. They make it happen. They ARE the change. They show up and step up. They rock the world and make it exciting. They show that change is possible and it won’t break you. So, what is leadership attitude? In my latest book Leadership Attitude, I sum it up like this.
“It’s the way you see yourself, the way you see the leadership role and the way you interact with people around you. It’s in what you want and how you plan to get it. It’s in how you take your people along the journey with you, and achieve success together.”
Do you have leadership characteristics? Then it’s time you stood up and made things happen.
