Top 5 Ultimate Traits of Leaders That Make A Powerful Impact On You

Have you ever been in awe of someone? So much in awe that you want to be like them? They could be someone at work or a celebrity or a personal trainer. These are leaders/experts who possess traits that you admire.

Not everyone we admire has a lasting impact on us. Sometimes, as you get to know them you realize that admiration the naturally fades. Leadership isn’t an inborn trait. It’s a conscious effort. 

Leaders who manage to make a powerful impact on us seem to possess certain qualities. They are consciously working on themselves to be performing at that level. In this post, I will be sharing the top 5 qualities of such leaders in my perspective. I would also love to hear the qualities of leaders who have had a lasting impact on you!

1. Selflessness – Leaders we are drawn to are the ones with a ‘we vs I’ mentality. They know that to be truly successful they need their team to be successful. They believe in their teams. Selfless leaders help you soar and make you go from being their fan to a follower! 

Success is not about what you receive it’s about what you return

From the book, ‘The Leader Who Had No Title‘ By Robin Sharma

2. Ownership – People are always watching their leaders, especially how they handle difficult situations. Their actions are communicated more loudly than any words. 

Leaders tackle problems head on. They aren’t afraid of owning up to mistakes, standing up for their teams at the risk of ruining their reputation.

3. Recognition – According to O.C. Tanner’s engagement study, 79% of employees who quit their jobs cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving.

I have been happiest in jobs where I felt valued and appreciated. It motivates you to go the extra mile. Impactful leaders always are the first to give credit where it’s due. 

Powerful, impactful leaders know there is not a monopoly on intelligence

Carla Harris

4. Trustworthiness – I once had a senior leader in an organization introduce me to someone in their team and say, she is going to be an executive one day! I was so shocked to hear it because she saw something in me before I saw it myself. 

Successful leaders know that trust is key to building strong relationships with their teams. They work on earning their teams trust by placing trust in them. They are authentic and transparent with their teams in this process of establishing mutual trust.

5. Approachability – Leaders who have a real impact on you are approachable. You feel comfortable going to them knowing they will prioritize your best interests. They know happier teams produce winning results. You are comfortable owning up your mistakes with them. 

In my personal experience whenever I was open about my shortcomings, people would start to open up and aren’t afraid to come with questions or clarifications. No matter how trivial they think they are. Vulnerability builds approachability!

Leaders can make or break us. Being surrounded by the wrong leaders can cause us to compromise our own values to fit in with their beliefs. 

Leaders who have a lasting impact on us empower and inspire people every step of the way. They break down barriers to achieve goals. Such leaders always have their teams best interest at heart.

They are the ones you wouldn’t mind being in company of even after you leave your place of work. 

What qualities come to your mind when you think of a leader who has had a lasting impact on you? Would love to hear your thoughts. 

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