The 4 Qualities of Great Leaders

Leadership is the biggest need of the world right now. We need more leaders who can chart unknown seas and inspire more people to their greatness. For me leadership all about dreaming big, inspiring others and leading by example.
Warren Bennis wrote one of the best books on leadership called “On Becoming a Leader.” I liked the 4 qualities of a leader he identified, and I think it will stand the test of time. Here are the 4 qualities of great leaders.
They create shared meaning: This is all about having the vision that uplifts people to their greatness. You need to find that vision which will move you and others. John F Kennedy’s vision of putting a man on the moon is one of the best examples of an audacious vision. The best part of it was it was so compelling that it outlived the visionary. Vision is the first step to becoming a great leader.
They have a distinctive voice:  This is all about confidence and emotional intelligence. As a leader people must see your unique voice coming out. Authenticity is the key because no one will follow you if you are like everyone else. We all have a distinctive voice and it is our duty to find that and express it to others.
They have high integrity: We have seen what happened with Enron or any other scandals where top leaders lost it. It is better not to try to go too high too fast and fall. Rather it is better to build your inner strength so that when you do become a top leader you have built yourself so much that you don’t take any shortcuts. Being honest and truthful with everyone around you is a wonderful way to exhibit integrity. If your deeds match your words your life will speak loudly.
They have adaptive capacity: This is the most important quality of a 21st century leader. This is all about managing relentless change and adapting to it. It is all about grit and hardiness. You must be totally adaptable if you want to thrive in the turbulent waters of the 21st century. Develop your grit muscles and that’s when the true leader is revealed.
There you have it the 4 qualities of a great leader that you can incorporate into your leadership style. Thanks for reading this post.
The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.

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