Ten Traits of Great Leaders

Contrary to popular belief, people are not born greatleaders. According to the late Warren Bennis, an organizational consultant, author, and founding chairman of theLeadership Institute at the University of Southern California, the key competenciesof leadership are learned.

George Ambler, anexecutive partner with Gartner Executive Programs, agrees. “At its core,leadership consists of a set of skills and behaviors that can be learned,” he writes.

Tentraits of great leaders

Michelle Jackson, a seasoned instructional designer,development consultant, and founder of Tilak Learning Group, concurs thatleadership is a skill that can be honed. In a recent webinarsponsored by The Training Associates, she outlined 10 traits common to great leaders. Interestingly,all 10 of Jackson’s traits begin with the letter T. According to Jackson, “Thesetransformational Ts should be top of mind for every leader.”

Figure 1: Michelle Jackson’s 10 traits of great leaders

Her transformational traits are:

• Trust
• Time
• Tools
• Toughness
• Togetherness
• Teachable
• Truth
• Transparent
• Transgenerational
• Thank you

Below, Jackson expands on the 10 traits of great leaders.

1. Trust.According to leadership expert Stephen M.R. Covey, “Research shows that only 51 percent of employees trust seniormanagement, and only 28 percent believe CEOs are a credible source ofinformation.” Jackson warns this is a huge problem. “You simply cannot be aneffective leader without trust,” she says. Jackson emphasizes that trust must firstbe earned and then carefully nurtured. “People won’t automatically trust youdue to your title,” she says. “It is earned over time and can be destroyedovernight.”
2. Time.Great leaders are time management experts. Understanding that not everything iscritical, they learn to prioritize—and they teach team members to do the same. Certainbest practices are evident in nearly every business vertical. “Key factors instrong time management are being aware of the vision, setting specific and realisticgoals, setting and communicating priorities, and having the discipline tofollow the plan,” writes Christina Bilinski, who has more than three decades of experience as amanager, facilitator, and presenter.
3. Tools.Great leaders make sure they, and their teams, are equipped with the tools necessaryto do their jobs. Jackson defines “tools” as the items needed to efficientlycomplete projects, and she notes that they might include software, processes, andtraining. “But truthfully,” she says, “the most powerful leadership tool youhave is your own example.”
4. Toughness.Although toughness is often associated with coldness or insensitivity, Jackson saysthis crucial trait gives great leaders the ability to cope with difficultchallenges and respond with resilience. Because they don’t choke underpressure, tough leaders are able to confidently make decisions that move theirorganizations forward. The challenge for leaders is to exhibit toughness whilestill demonstrating empathy.
5. Togetherness.The best leaders don’t operate in a vacuum. They build important relationshipswith team members, vendors, customers, and the community. They ask questionsand actively listen. Jackson advises leaders to consciously carve out time,even if it is just 15 minutes per day, to interact with others.
6. Teachable.Constant learning is a key to remaining fresh and relevant. Great leaders setaside a budget that enables everyone on their team to expand their educationand level up. The best leaders stay on top of current trends and are humbleenough to learn from subordinates. “Never be afraid to ask someone you lead toshow you something new,” Jackson suggests.
7. Truth.As former President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “The supreme quality forleadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success ispossible.” Jackson agrees. She notes that great leaders exude integrity, makehonest, ethical decisions, and don’t undermine others.
8. Transparent.The Dalai Lama has said, “A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deepsense of insecurity.” Jackson says leaders should strive for transparencybecause it creates an atmosphere of openness, honesty, and fairness in theworkplace. “Encourage transparent conversations, and show how and why you makedecisions,” she says.
9. Transgenerational.There are currently four generations in the workplace: Traditionalists, BabyBoomers, Gen X, and Millennials. A fifth, Gen Z, is right on the horizon. Eachhas its own work styles, expectations, and habits. “Understand theirmotivations, and be flexible in order to lead each generation with confidence,”Jackson advises. She says great leaders are eager and willing to mentor talentfrom other generations, no matter which generation they personally come from.
10. Thankyou. Great leaders appreciate others and are keen to express theirgratitude. “‘Thank you’ are two very powerful words,” Jackson says. “Use themoften in person, in emails, and by phone.” A 2016 survey of more than 23,000 employees, conducted by the IBM SmarterWorkforce Institute and Globoforce’s WorkHuman Research Institute, confirms theimportance of appreciation. The survey revealed that 83 percent of employeesreport a positive employee experience when they feel recognized for the goodwork they do.