You always imagine a leader standing in front of a mass of people and getting them to move in a certain direction with great gusto. However, great leaders come in many forms. Some take charge in a more obvious manner while others do it a little more subtly. Some leaders are more focused on the task at hand while others enjoy honing the skills of the people they work with. Whatever form they may choose to take, all true leaders share some common traits.

Lead by Example

No leader will demand from his team qualities that he himself does not possess. The best leaders are those who believe in setting an example. Taking the simplest situation, if you expect punctuality at your workplace, you can hardly saunter into the office late, or deliver assignments after the deadlines have passed. You need to set an example for your team and assume the function of a role model.

High Drive and Intrinsic Motivation

All leaders are motivated from within. It’s one of the most important leadership characteristics. They have the drive to achieve something and nothing can stop them till they have. They may realize that the journey ahead is tough and not without its pitfalls; however, they keep at it till they have got what they wanted. Not only are they extremely energetic and active they can also infuse the same enthusiasm in people around them. It’s almost like they are catalysts of great changes.

Courage and Confidence

Why is it that a leader achieves seemingly impossible things? That’s because they have the confidence to look beyond the ordinary and mundane and the courage to take risks to achieve that which seems to be impossible. While people around them are talking about a 101 reasons why something cannot possibly be done, a leader looks for just one good reason to do it, and then, goes ahead and does it.

“There’s so Much to Learn”

This is among the most important leadership characteristics. A leader never behaves like he knows it all. While they are intelligent and possess great knowledge about their field, they are always open to learning new things. And, they also know that they are not infallible. Mistakes, for them, are a part of the learning cycle and when they make a mistake they are humble enough to admit it. For them, there is not shame in falling; what would be shameful is if they refused to get up and try again.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the leadership characteristics that can make a man step up and lead his team. A leader should be optimistic, observant, and patient. He should have great communication skills. A leader doesn’t believe in turning his team into mindless slaves who survive to do his bidding. He believes in making each person an independent thinker. He fosters logical thinking and reasoning in his team and helps them work independently. His role is that of a guide. He points in a certain direction and asks his team to get there by their own initiative. The true mark of a leader is that he believes in creating more leaders, not followers.