Published on November 16, 2021

It is said that great leaders are born and not made. While the truth of this adage is certainly debatable, it is definitely true that leadership skills can be identified, inculcated and nurtured.

Leaders have the potential to influence great changes. What a leader says or does has a great impact. Good leaders always respect themselves and others. A great leader always chooses the harder right rather than an easier wrong. They take responsibility for their actions.

Though each leader is unique, successful leaders share a few common traits. These traits can be identified, developed and nurtured to create great leaders.

Initiators.

Great leaders are excellent initiators. They always strive to help others in any way they can. They proactively look for opportunities, volunteer for responsibilities and are a part of the solution.

Demonstrate a desire to do more than what your role includes. Be ready to assist in other domains. Identify issues and try to develop potential solutions.

Critical thinkers. 

Failures are inevitable. But the ability to think rationally, critically and avoid failures or rise from a setback is what sets great leaders apart. Leaders understand failures may happen, but they do not dwell on the mistakes.

Use failure as a learning opportunity and a way to improve your skills. Learn to think critically and use failure as a motivation to succeed.

Listen. Listen. Listen. 

The biggest problem is that people do not listen to understand – they listen to reply. Leaders listen more than they need to speak. This allows them to gain a better insight into the situation and determine if they need more data before making a decision.

The word ‘Listen‘ contains the same letters as the word ‘Silent.’

Motivate.

Successful people build each other up. Encouraging others to succeed is a trait of a good leader. Good leaders give credit where it’s due and avoid taking credit for others’ work.

Good leaders help others feel confident about themselves. Learn to enjoy seeing others succeed. Be a part of a process. Success is all about what you inspire others to do.

Stay Disciplined.

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. Leaders have to remain focused. They have to be able to work in all types of conditions without getting distracted. With self-discipline, anything can be conquered.

Discipline is the key to success. Motivation gets you going, but it is the discipline that keeps you growing.

Keep Learning. 

Learning is a continuous journey. Leaders welcome the chance to learn new skills or ideas. They are constantly on the path of updating and upgrading themselves.

Be willing to learn new things. Learn continually – there’s always one more thing to learn.

Delegate.

Delegating tasks is a vital part of being a leader. Finding the perfect person for the job is a skill that good leaders excel at. Leaders avoid trying to complete every task themselves. They ensure the perfect completion of the job.

If you are good at something, do it. If you are not good at something, find someone who is good at it and get the job done.

Conflict Resolvers.

Leaders work well with others. They have strong interpersonal skills. They effectively sniff out conflicts and snuff them out immediately. A good leader identifies discordant notes and ensures a harmonious working environment.

Play fair, but play tough. Learn to work with others.

Nurture your leadership skills

Leadership development programs help in nurturing and developing leadership skills. They help you develop your strengths and work on your weaknesses. There are various leadership development programs in India that are great places to indulge with qualified professionals. They empower you to reach your full potential.

Lead the change with Harvard YLC Leadership Conference

Youth Lead the Change is a leadership development program created by professors of the Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, and the Harvard School of education, and held by Harvard students. Held for students in grades 8 – 12, the program aims at empowering students and unlocking their leadership capabilities as they develop tangible solutions to global problems. Over the 7 day course, the students work in a group to understand a global issue and develop a social change project to address it. Through this program, students learn about core leadership skills such as collaboration, public speaking, time management, and self-knowledge.

The Harvard trainers also hold one-on-one sessions with students who continue to serve as mentors after the program. On finishing the program, there is an opportunity to complete mentorship for an entire year, to implement their project. Presented by The Leadership Institute at Harvard College (LIHC), this Harvard student organization aims to provide and promote leadership development opportunities across the world.