17 Qualities of Leadership in Business

Leadership in business is critical, no matter what industry it is, as leading people is a critical part of any successful business enterprise. Although some believe that great leaders are born, there are many qualities that can be developed that can help almost anyone become a great leader.

1. Act Ethically and Honestly

The first and most important quality of leadership in business is to always act ethically and honestly, whether you are dealing with a subordinate or a superior. By acting ethically and honestly, a leader promotes similar attitudes in others in the company. One suggestion is to make a list of the values that the brand represents and post them prominently in the office. This emphasizes core beliefs and encourages others to promote them as well.

2. Delegation Equals Trust

One important leadership quality that many overlook is the fact that delegation of duties to others shows trust in the person the work is delegated to. Micromanagement is rarely successful, and by delegating tasks that others can do, a good leader frees up their time to accomplish other tasks, while instilling a sense of trust in others.

3. Open Communication

A good leader understands that communication goes both ways. While clearly communicating what they want accomplished is important, it is also important to listen to others in order to keep a clear vision of what is going on within the company. Many in leadership roles do not want to discuss interoffice issues, believing that the problems will work themselves out, when, in fact, hearing those issues is critical to keeping the company running smoothly. It also provides a better sense of trust among employees.

5. Have Fun

It is important to remember that morale is linked to productivity, and many employees claim that a fun workplace increases morale significantly. Encourage laughter in the workplace by keeping a sense of humor, and allow employees short breaks from the day-to-day work to talk about family, weekend plans or other personal matters that can reduce workplace stress.

6. High Confidence Level

One of the most important leadership qualities is projecting a sense of confidence even when things are difficult. When setbacks occur, such as the loss of a contract or a computer crash, remain calm and confident so that other staff members remain calm as well. By projecting confidence, there is less chance others will panic and make the situation even worse.

7. Set a Good Example

The “do as I say not as I do” philosophy in management does not work. Therefore, set a good example so that employees are more likely to follow suit. If you consistently arrive at work late, employees will begin to do so as well. If you fail to return emails or avoid customer service calls, employees will be encouraged to do the same. Therefore, it is important to set a good example to encourage others to do the same.

8. Outside the Box

Creativity is another critical leadership quality. Solutions may not always be clear, which is why a good leader needs to look at creative solutions for some problems. However, it is also important to remember that not all creative decisions are the correct decisions, so careful thought and consideration must be given to the best method for implementing solutions.

9. Inspire Others

When people are asked about great leaders from their past, they almost always talk about how they were inspired by them. A great leader makes the team feel invested in the company, as if they own a portion of the business themselves. Not only does inspiration help your team achieve long-term goals, it can also benefit the company with current issues as well.

10. Courage

Courage is important in business as there will be times when a leader is faced with difficult decisions. Courage allows you to face fears and make decisions, even when the outcome of those decisions may be painful, such as layoffs during economic downturns. Good leaders take obstacles and turn them into opportunity.

11. Self-Control

As difficult as it may be, a good leader must be in control of their emotions. Self-control when things are difficult is not easy, as emotions run high during stressful times, but a true leader knows how to keep their emotions in check even when things are difficult. Extreme anger, sentimentality and emotional outbursts are qualities that a good leader learns to control.

12. Good Instincts

Leadership requires good instincts. Often, a “gut feeling” is more accurate than pages of data, and a good leader knows how to put those “gut feelings” to work properly. A good sense of judgment is a very important leadership quality, but it is also important to recognize good instincts in others as well.

13. Firm but Flexible

Once a decision is made, a good business leader remains firm in that decision. However, it is also important to listen to others who may see flaws in the decision. Therefore, leadership in business requires not only the ability to firmly stand by a decision, but to have enough flexibility that those decisions can be tweaked as necessary.

14. Accept Responsibility

There is a lot of truth to the famous Teddy Roosevelt quote “The buck stops here.” A good leader accepts responsibility, not only when things are going well, but when things go wrong as well. Ultimately, decisions fall on the shoulders of the leader, and when things go wrong, the leader must step up and take responsibility.

15. Team Player

Along the lines of accepting responsibility, it is also important for a leader to be a team player. As a good leader, you must understand that you are part of a team no matter what level of responsibility you have. Therefore, acknowledge the fact that it takes a group of people to be successful, not just one, and give credit where it is due.

16. Be Humble

When things are going well, it is easy to take credit for the work done by others. However, a good leader has a strong sense of humility, understanding that they achieve goals through the works of many and did not achieve success alone.

17. Strong Character

Leadership in business requires someone with a strong character that includes integrity, self-confidence and charisma. Great leaders are rarely timid, although they do not have to be forceful either. Confidence and integrity go a long way toward great leadership.

These traits can help anyone succeed in business and can improve leadership in business qualities regardless of the industry.

ARTICLE: http://loucrativebusiness.com/17-qualities-leadership-business/ Lou Harty is truly a “21st Century” Educator! She is a successful entrepreneur, Internet Marketer, and regular contributor to a number of online and offline investment publications and blogs. She is a successful speaker and renowned for her hands-on education techniques across a wide variety of investment strategies. Lou attributes her passion, drive and discipline to her 20 Year career in the Australian Army training soldiers.

ARTICLE: http://loucrativebusiness.com/17-qualities-leadership-business/ Lou Harty is truly a “21st Century” Educator! She is a successful entrepreneur, Internet Marketer, and regular contributor to a number of online and offline investment publications and blogs. She is a successful speaker and renowned for her hands-on education techniques across a wide variety of investment strategies. Lou attributes her passion, drive and discipline to her 20 Year career in the Australian Army training soldiers.

Author Bio: ARTICLE: http://loucrativebusiness.com/17-qualities-leadership-business/ Lou Harty is truly a “21st Century” Educator! She is a successful entrepreneur, Internet Marketer, and regular contributor to a number of online and offline investment publications and blogs. She is a successful speaker and renowned for her hands-on education techniques across a wide variety of investment strategies. Lou attributes her passion, drive and discipline to her 20 Year career in the Australian Army training soldiers.

Category: Business
Keywords: leadership in business