Leadership is a virtue, a virtue that can be cultivated with some sincere efforts. All the great leaders who have walked the face of Earth started out as an ordinary person just like you and me. But what set them apart at one point in their life was the extraordinary zeal to achieve even in the face of adversity and resistance.
Many people perceive the meteoric rise of famous leaders as luck, but as the great philosopher Seneca rightly said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Now you might be wondering what kind of preparation am I talking about, right?
Well, to be honest, there is no set blueprint for the preparation that is required of you to become a leader. However, as I have already said, leadership is a virtue, so there are certain qualities that you can actually nurture to culture this virtue.
The article will also help you know more about leadership experience. You can use this to your advantage when asked questions during interviews or even in your résumé.
Here are eight such qualities that can bring out the leader hidden in you!
Table of Contents
Courage
To start anything new needs a lot of courage, since there is always a fear of failure. If you can hold on to your visions despite all the risks involved and try to be as bold and brave as you can, you are already en-route on the paths of the greats.
Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers of all time, had said, “You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” I know that it is easier said than done, but to muster up your courage and to be honorable sounds like a worthy deal, doesn’t it?
Persistence
You must have heard it before, but persistence is indeed the key to success. In the words of Chinese philosopher Confucius, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop,” and “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential…these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.“
Decision making
In whatever sector of life you want to excel, the moment of decision always comes upon you. It is on these decisive moments, great leaders face the hardest of challenges and create history.
In Plato’s opinion, “A good decision is based on knowledge and not numbers,” and “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” So, if you have to decide on something important, go ahead bravely and remember there is no stopping you once you have set sail!
Perfection
You need not do a lot at once but whatever little you choose to do, do that with precision and perfection. Plato said,” Better a little which is well done, than a great deal, imperfectly.“
You cannot achieve perfection in a day. But what you can do is try to be a better version of yourself at work or life in general, to inch closer to the perfection that you have always desired to achieve.
Also remember what Thucydides had said, “The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.” So, don’t be afraid if your imperfections make way through your attempts, being brave enough to do it anyway is the first step forward.
Teamwork
A great leader is a team player. So, along with self-development, you got to build your team spirit for a holistic way to achieve goals.
Lao Tzu has famously said,” When the best leader’s work is done, the people say, “We did it ourselves,” and this could not have been more appropriate. So be a team player, because when the team wins, you win too.
Consistency
If you want to be a leader, you cannot waste time being lazy or complacent about your past achievements. It’s exactly like what Lao Tzu said, “An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox.”
Being consistent is really important. Through success and failure, you need to have unwavering grit towards both. As Epictetus had said, “Make the best use of what’s in your power and take the rest as it happens.“
Focus
“All things will be produced in superior quantity and quality, and with greater ease, when each man works at a single occupation, in accordance with his natural gifts, and at the right moment, without meddling with anything else.” – Plato
When your goals are clear, and you are focused on it, the path to success becomes much more perceivable. As the age-old saying goes, you can’t have your legs in two boats at the same time; being focussed on your goals is imperative.
Modesty
Your abilities are limitless. However, as Harry Truman had wisely said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
Being down to Earth, even in the limelight of success, is the true character of a real leader. Just like failure doesn’t bother such a person, neither does success because to him /her, the glory of accomplishing work is much more critical and valuable.
Keeping this in mind, try to practice modesty in every step of your life and cultivate the character of a true leader within you!
Concluding Remarks
Great leaders are also humans with their share of mistakes and learning curves. But with diligence and perseverance, they tend to overcome all obstacles to emerge as great.
Through all these qualities mentioned above, you, too, can become a great leader one day with the right amount of hard work and sincerity on your part. Attaining all these qualities is not an easy job, but surely not impossible either.
Lastly, always remember, Douglas MacArthur’s words about a true leader,
“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
