Top 5 Qualities of an Effective Leader

There are many definitions and perspectives around effectiveness when it comes to being a leader. After ample research and through my own experience as a business owner, I have come to believe that the most important quality that an effective leader must possess is the ability to adapt to their surroundings. This ability is rooted in building effective work environments and as a result, empowering a team to succeed together.

While getting the job done is often the sole goal of any leader, the principles and philosophies behind how the job is done determine how effective of a leader one can be. When leaders are passionate about developing emerging leaders around them, they will form a strong team culture that builds the foundation for accomplishing any mission.  

Here are the top 5 qualities that I believe are at the forefront of successful leadership:

1.)  Communication

An effective leader is able to articulate their ideas and plan to achieve common goals through strong communication between departments and across levels. Leaders should be able to instruct, motivate, and discipline the people they’re in charge of in a respectable manner. Leaders with poor communication skills are perceived as weak and their strategies often lead to poor outcomes. Keeping employees in the loop at all times ensures that everyone is on the same page and able to stay focused.

2.)    Support

A good leader knows the importance of initiative and reactiveness so they will go above and beyond to support team members working to achieve a common goal. They’ll show empathy and respect in order to work through ideas. Leaders build camaraderie among group members around a common goal. Oftentimes, it can be helpful for leaders to schedule 1:1 meetings with their team members to determine their individual goals and how those fit into the overall organizational goals. These meetings, whether on a monthly or quarterly basis, help each team member to feel supported and increases overall motivation.

3.)    Shared success

This is the ability to know the strengths and weaknesses of every individual on the team and give credit where it’s due. A good leader does not take full recognition for any success but instead, shares it with the entire team. Leaders are able to quickly recognize the skills of their team members and acknowledge their specific skillsets, placing them in positions and roles that allow them to thrive. This takes humility on the leader’s part, but through these actions, they gain respect from their team members and the overall success of the organization improves.  

4.)    Creating an atmosphere conducive to growth—A good leader creates an atmosphere that encourages everyone on the team to share ideas, grow, and thrive. Team members look to their leader to lead by example—contributing through honest feedback and open dialogue. The goal is for team members to align with individuals within their workgroups who can capitalize on each other’s strengths and weaknesses. For example, if someone within the group has a particular strength, pairing them with someone who is not as strong in that area, fosters growth for both team members. This type of collaboration stretches individual capabilities and creates new and better skillsets.

5.)     An attitude of learning—A good leader knows his or her own strengths, but also recognizes faults and is always receptive to any insight and feedback from their teams. Are you asking your team members how you are doing? An attitude of humility and a desire for growth are contagious qualities from the top down.  

I strongly believe that effective leadership is a process and a journey. Many individuals may be natural born-leaders but it takes intentionality to hone the specific leadership qualities it takes to be a strong and effective leader! One of the best ways I have been intentional about leadership development within myself is by surrounding myself with leaders who I admire and can learn from. That being said, my humble word of advice going forward, is to set intentional goals for yourself and establish an action plan of how to achieve those. If you’re longing to be a more effective leader, surround yourself with people who can help you do that—it makes all the difference!