5 Characteristics of a good leader

Being an effective leader is no easy task. While most people will blame a leader during bad times, a leader’s qualities or lack thereof will usually determine the final outcome of a situation.

Being an effective leader is no easy task. While most people will blame a leader during bad times, the boss' leadership skills or lack thereof will usually determine the final outcome of any situation.

It is these particular set of qualities that employees admire and often try to emulate. That being said, it is very important for leaders to try to acquire and master effective leadership skills.

Not all leaders are created equal. There are some who lead their organizations quite well. Think of folks like Steve Ballmer, and others who cause the failure of the teams they lead and sometimes the company as a whole.

That being said, here are 5 awesome qualities most of today’s great leaders possess. 

1. Great communicator

If I had to name only one characteristic, I consider to be the most important to catapult a leader to success, this would be it. I think effective communication is a "must" if you are to lead your team to success. 

2. Decisive

Various studies have shown that people are more willing to follow the direction of a decisive leader than they are the leadership of an indecisive leader. Great leaders analyze a situation and make a firm decision with the information they have. Being decisive will give your team the confidence to execute on your overall vision.

3. Curious

It is always scary to work for a boss who doesn't seem to want to know much about anything. Great Leaders spend a lot of time seeking out information-whether it is reading books on varying topics or travelling to different countries.

4. Team builder

Great leaders are often tasked with building and maintaining teams. Whether you lead a football club or startup company, it is all about teamwork.  A leader's ability to pull together folks from different backgrounds to build a cohesive unit is paramount to success. 

5. Positive Attitude

As a leader, it is your responsibility that your team is productive. You will need to be the one to whom they look for motivation. It is important that you maintain a positive outlook so your team can come to depend on you. Good leaders are often times the voice of reason when things are going badly.