According to John C. Maxwell, a leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Having said that, there are certain qualities a good leader needs to possess to effectively lead his subordinates, and that is what this blog post covers. If you’re trying to start your journey as a leader, then make sure you read to the end. Along with each quality of a good leader is a quote to reinforce each point.

Here are 16 leadership qualities that can be learned and improved on to make you the type of leader John C. Maxwell defined.

1. Trustworthiness

The glue that holds relationships together — including the relationship between the leader and the led — is trust, and trust is based on integrity.

Brian Tracy

The two qualities of a good leader that improve trustworthiness are honesty and integrity. Every good leader should be trustworthy. It’s easier to grow as a leader when your followers can trust you because you stick to your values, beliefs, and ethics.

A leader that can be trusted is a leader whose words and deeds match up. Being a leader myself, I’ve come to realise that your team members will trust your vision and goals if they can trust you.

2. Confidence

When the leader lacks confidence, the followers lack commitment.

John C. Maxwell

No one wants to follow a leader who isn’t sure about their qualities and abilities. That’s why confidence is another essential quality of a good leader. This does not mean that you should be cocky. I suggest that you should be sure of what you’re doing and the decisions you make.

Being confident and courageous means stepping up to steer the right things in the right direction when others are scared to do so. Out of all qualities of a good leader, confidence commands respect from your followers.

3. Inspiration

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader!

President John Quincy Adams

Sometimes you will not feel like it, and your followers will feel that way too. At such times, you should be able to inspire yourself and them and keep them focused on the goal. If you can successfully inspire your followers, you will be able to overcome any challenge.

Great leaders have a unique way of inspiring and motivating their followers. The best way to inspire your followers is by doing the things they dread to do and making them look simple. That way they can learn to do it also and in turn teach others.

4. Passion

One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.

E. M. Forster

Leaders are passionate people. And they can easily pass this passion on to their followers. A leader leads by example. If you want others to be passionate, then you have to show them how passionate you are about what you do.

5. Good Communication

If you just communicate, you can get by. But if you communicate skillfully, you can work miracles.”

Jim Rohn

I’m not talking about using a lot of vocabulary when you speak. You should be able to communicate your goals, vision, and mission to your followers. They should be able to understand what they need to do and the strategies to be applied. That’s what good communication entails.

6. Optimism

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

Margeret Mead

This is among one of the great qualities of a leader. Optimistic leaders are always hopeful and believe in the best for their company or team, regardless of whatever challenges they face. Being optimistic helps you reach goals faster than when you’re pessimistic.

7. Decision Maker

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

Thomas Jefferson

One of the great qualities of a good team leader is decision-making. A leader should be able to make accurate decisions when necessary. You should think deeply before deciding because every decision is vital, so do the necessary research and ask the relevant people for guidance. And when you make a decision, stand by it.

8. Accountability

Accountability feels like an attack when you’re not ready to acknowledge how your behaviors harm others.

Tamara Renaye

As a leader, you should be accountable. This is another great responsibility for a good leader.  Being accountable includes being ready to apologise for any mistakes and finding ways to minimise future mistakes.

9. Good Listener

Accountability feels like an attack when you’re not ready to acknowledge how your behaviors harm others.

Tamara Renaye

What does a good listener do? He accepts suggestions, analyses them, and performs the necessary action or gives feedback. A good leader cannot do away with this quality, because it is essential for helping your team and organisation grow.

10. Delegation and Empowerment

When you delegate tasks, you create followers. When you delegate authority, you create leaders.

Craig Groeschel,

Assign tasks to your members and see how they manage those tasks. This will help you track their growth and competence. Whenever they are stuck, you can step in and help them. Being a good leader does not mean you have to do all the work yourself.

11. Innovation

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower

Steve Jobs

Leaders encourage creativity and innovation in their teams through activities like brainstorming or prototyping. They bring up ideas for growth and efficient management. Without innovation, there will be no motivation to grow, so you need to be innovative and inspire your team to be creative as well.

12. Empathy

Empathy has the power to bring together people who would otherwise never meet. It has the power to teach us and to reach us in moments of isolation when we think nobody understands

Dr. Vivek Murthy

A good leader is emotionally intelligent. He knows how to empathise with his team members and others around him. This is not the only aspect of emotional intelligence a leader needs, but it will help you know how to encourage your subordinates when they are down.

13. Resilience

Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.

Nelson Mandela

What do you do when you experience a setback? Do you give up, or do you get back up and keep moving forward? As a good leader, you must be resilient. If you can be resilient in difficult times, then your members will learn to stay strong too.

14. Conflict Resolution

Successful leaders manage conflict; they don’t shy away from it or suppress it but see it as an engine of creativity and innovation.

Ronald Heifetz

Negative emotions can influence your decision-making skills. This is why you need to learn how to manage or resolve conflict with yourself and others. This quality helps you stay on top of your leadership game because you are not influenced by negative feelings.

15. Humility

He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.

Aristotle

A good leader is selfless and always thinks about his or her followers. Above all, an effective leader is humble. They are not pompous because of their status or achievements. They are down to earth and have a humble view of life and leadership.

16. Vision and Purpose

The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.

Reverend Theodore Hesburgh

As a leader, you must have a vision and purpose for yourself, your team, and your organisation. You should be able to see the future you desire and help others see it as well. No one wants to follow a leader who knows nothing about where they are headed. Have a clear vision and purpose statement, and let your members understand and desire it too.

Conclusion

These are some of the essential qualities of a good leader. You may not have all these qualities when you start your leadership journey, but, by all means, learn them. Each of these qualities of a good leader plays an important role in the growth of your team and organisation. As a leader, learn these qualities to ease your journey.