Which Leadership Traits Do People Want to Follow?

By Alan Olsen
Which Leadership Traits Do People Want to Follow?

There are many aspects to being a great leader. And great leaders have many different qualities that make people want to follow them. Being humble, kind, honest, and emotionally intelligent are just a few of the traits that make leaders great. So what are some of the key qualities that you can develop that will help people want to follow you? Here are just a few to consider.

Inclusiveness

No one likes feeling left out. Effective leaders understand that everyone has something to offer. They also recognize the need for diversity and know the value that diversity can bring to a company and the work environment. Leaders often have great ideas, but they don’t know everything. Effective leaders realizethat great ideas can come from anyone. They aren’t afraid to let others share their ideas and give credit where credit is due. Infact, they encourage others to share their ideas because they know these ideas could end up helping the entire organization.

Set a Clear Focus

A true leader knows where he or she is going and how to get there. It takes more than just a list of goals and tasks. Good leaders have a long-term vision and they understand the process to obtain it. To be successful, it’s vital for leaders to set that course for those they lead. The goals, and the plans to achieve them, need to be clear. Everyone should know them and understand them. Leaders also need to hold everyone accountable, including themselves, to ensure that the long-term vision is met.

Learn From Mistakes

No one is perfect. Making mistakes is part of life and business. The key is to learn from your mistakes. Good leaders not only learn from their own mistakes, but they help others learn from them, as well. They use their experience to help those they lead avoid the same kinds of mistakes they have made. Sometimes, the best way to learn is by our own mistakes. Butwhen a good leader sees someone taking a course that will lead to trouble, he or she can step in before disaster strikes.

Ask for Feedback

We all know the value of feedback. As a leader, it’s part of your job to give feedback to others. But to be an even better leader, you should also seek feedback from others about your own performance. No one likes to be criticized but good leaders understand that listening, and responding, to criticism can help them get better. They see these feedback moments as opportunities to learn and grow, and ultimately become better leaders.

Keep At It

You’re not a true leader if you have to force people to follow you. However, by developing these valuable leadership traits, people will want to naturally follow your lead. It takes time and effort butif you implement these strategies you can improve your leadership capabilities.