“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.” —Max DePree.

The person you view as the ideal leader may differ based on the type of organization you work in and the industry you are in, but there are some common behaviours that most outstanding leaders have in common.

This article will share some leadership behaviours that separate great leaders from other managers and supervisors.

You should try incorporating these behaviors into your leadership style if you want to be an influential leader to your direct subordinates, peers, and senior management.

Top 25+ Leadership Behaviours You Need to be an Excellent Leader

1. Encourage Others

If you want every member on your team to give their best, you must encourage them. Make it a point to recognize good work in front of others, even if they did something outside their regular duties. For example, Jane, thank you for taking time out of your schedule today to work on next year’s budget with Bob.

Remember that gratitude is contagious, and acknowledging someone else’s hard work will make other team members want to keep up that level of effort. When you encourage others, don’t forget about yourself either!

It can also be helpful to praise your co-workers’ performance while still in earshot, so they know how well they’re doing.

2. Be Decisive

Making decisions quickly and confidently is one of the most effective leadership skills, as it allows you to take charge in situations and keep your team and your goals on track.

Of course, not all decisions are easy, and there will be times when you must weigh different options carefully before deciding on the best course of action. However, even in these cases, it’s vital to remain confident in your ability to lead and make the right decision for your team. Trusting your instincts and being decisive will help instill confidence in those who follow you and ultimately help you succeed as a leader.

3. Be Confident

One of the good leadership skills is confidence. If you don’t believe in yourself, it’ll be difficult for others to do so. Confidence instills trust in those who follow you; if your followers see ‌you are confident in your ability to lead them, they will be more likely to trust your judgment and follow your orders. Remember that confidence doesn’t mean arrogance – striking the right balance is vital.

4. Be Inspiring

The best leaders are inspiring. They have a vision that motivates people to want to achieve great things. People are drawn to them because they believe in the vision and feel inspired by their passion.

Always staying positive, even in difficult situations, is a great way to be inspiring. Leaders who remain positive no matter what, are more likely to maintain their team’s morale and keep them moving forward. When things get tough, your team will need someone to look up to – make sure that person is you!

5. Be Passionate

Passionate leaders inspire those around them to achieve great things. They can effectively communicate their vision and get others excited about working towards a common goal. Such enthusiasm is contagious and can help create a productive and positive work environment. Passionate leaders are usually more attentive to detail and more motivated to see a project through from start to finish.

6. Be Committed

To be an excellent leader, you need to be committed. This means being fully dedicated to your role and responsibilities and putting in the required effort to succeed. It also means setting the example for others to follow and inspiring them with your dedication and enthusiasm.

Leaders committed to their roles provide strong motivation and direction. They lead and create a healthy work environment that encourages everyone to do their best. You can set the tone for a productive and successful team by being committed to yourself.

7. Be A Good Communicator

Poor communication creates misunderstandings, frustration, and resentment, so if you want to be an excellent leader, you must make sure you’re communicating effectively with your team.

Being a good communicator involves articulating your vision and ideas clearly and being open to hearing suggestions and feedback from others. Good leaders know that effective communication is vital to maintaining team morale and keeping everyone on the same page.

8. Be A Good Listener

 

Many people think being a good leader means always having the answer or knowing what to do next. But in reality, being a good leader often means simply being a good listener. It’s essential to listen to your team members, hear what they’re saying, and consider their perspectives before making decisions. You’ll better understand your team and what they need from you as their leader by listening.

9. Be Approachable

People are likely to follow someone they feel comfortable approaching. A leader open to communication with his team will be more successful in gaining trust and respect. Leaders should exhibit behaviours that show they are approachable, including being open to new ideas, displaying active listening skills, and responding to feedback. Leaders who take the time to connect with their team personally will be better equipped to lead them effectively.

10. Be Open-Minded

Open-minded leaders generate trust and safety within their team. Employees feel free to express opinions without fear of being judged. This type of leader is more likely to consider new ideas, even if they initially seem unorthodox. The team is more productive.

11. Be Fair

Leaders need to be fair to be effective. This means being consistent in how they treat people and making decisions based on what is fair and reasonable rather than what is personally convenient or advantageous.

Being fair also includes being honest and open with people, communicating effectively, and sharing information freely. Unfair leaders can quickly lose the trust of their team, which will impact their ability to lead effectively.

12. Be Honest

Many qualities go into being an excellent leader, but honesty is one of the most important. Being a leader, you must build trust with your team, which starts with being honest with them. If you’re not honest, they won’t believe anything you say and won’t trust you.

Honesty doesn’t mean you must tell your team everything, but being truthful when it matters. When something goes wrong, don’t ‌hide it or cover it up – be transparent and share what happened so that your team can learn from it.

13. Be Humble

One of the most crucial leadership behaviours is to be humble. When you’re humble, you’re open to learning and taking feedback. It also shows that you’re not concerned with being in the spotlight or being seen as the “smartest person in the room.”

Being humble allows you to build trust and credibility with your team, essential for leading them effectively.

14. Be Responsible

Leaders must be responsible for their decisions and actions. They also need to be accountable for their team’s performance, ensuring everyone has the resources to succeed and do their part.

Being responsible means being reliable – always doing what you say you’re going to do and taking accountability for your mistakes. It also means being proactive, looking ahead, and anticipating potential problems so they can be avoided. And finally, it means being creative in finding solutions when things don’t go as planned.

15. Be Supportive

To be an excellent leader, you must possess various skills and behaviors. One aspect that is essential to leadership is being supportive. As a leader, you must be there for your team, offering help and guidance. It means being approachable and responsive to questions and concerns. It also means developing a positive working environment where people feel comfortable approaching you with problems or ideas.

You don’t have to do everything for your team, but allowing them to grow and build their skills is important. But it means being there for them when they need you and providing the resources and support they need to succeed.

16. Be Accountable

Being accountable is the most critical leadership behaviours. When leaders take responsibility for their actions and pledge to fix any problems, it builds trust with followers.

Being accountable encourages others to be responsible for their actions. Leaders who aren’t accountable often create an environment of blame and finger-pointing, diminishing productivity and damaging morale.

Accountable leaders create a positive work environment where everyone works together towards a common goal.

17. Be Motivating

Excellent leaders are motivating. They understand ‌people need to be inspired to do their best work and work hard to build a workplace where everyone feels motivated. Leaders know the way to set the tone for their team and ensure everyone is working towards the same goal. Leaders also learn to give praise when required and ensure that everyone feels valued. Excellent leaders always seek ways to motivate their teams and help them reach their full potential.

18. Be Encouraging

One crucial leadership behaviour you need to have to be an excellent leader is the ability to be encouraging. This means giving positive feedback that supports and motivates your team members. It’s also vital to provide constructive criticism when needed, in a way that doesn’t crush people’s confidence. The best leaders are those who can balance the two.

Encouragement is essential because it helps people feel good about themselves and their work, which improves productivity and motivation levels. Punishing people or constantly criticizing them will only lead to disillusionment and resentment.

19. Be Optimistic

Optimism is about looking for the good in every situation and seeing the potential in every person. When you’re optimistic, you believe in your abilities to achieve great things, and this confidence inspires others to follow your lead. People want to be around positive leaders who see the best in them and are always looking for ways to improve things.

So if you want to be an excellent leader, start by practicing optimism – it will help you see the world in a more positive light and inspire others to do the same.

20. Be Flexible

Flexibility means changing course when necessary, being open to new ideas, and being willing to try different approaches. It also means letting go of your ego and making decisions that are in the team’s or organization’s best interests, even if they aren’t popular with everyone.

Being a flexible leader doesn’t mean that you don’t have clear convictions or that you’re wishy-washy. It simply means that you can listen to other points of view and accommodate them when necessary. This ability to be flexible is an essential quality for any leader.

21. Be Patient

Being a great leader is not something that comes naturally to everyone. It takes time, effort, and practice to develop the necessary skills. One of the most important behaviors you need to exhibit is patience.

Leadership is about creating long-term value for your team and organization, and you cannot accomplish this if you are always creating haste and making rash decisions. To be an excellent leader, you need to ‌take a step back and think things through before taking any action.

This doesn’t mean you have to be slow or inflexible; Being patient allows you to analyze all of your options before making a decision, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.

22. Be Persistent

To be an excellent leader, you need to be persistent. You need to have a clear vision for what you want to achieve and be willing to work hard to make it happen. You also need to identify opportunities and take advantage of them.

And finally, you need to ‌adapt your approach as needed and never give up. Leadership is difficult, but you can be an excellent leader if you display these qualities.

23. Be Positive

Leaders are role models for their team and need a positive attitude to be effective. Being positive and setting the example for a good attitude will help keep your team morale high and help motivate them when things get tough.

Leaders should always be willing to take on feedback and use it to improve their leadership skills.

24. Have Integrity

One of the most crucial leadership behaviors you need to be an excellent leader is integrity. Integrity means being honest and truthful in your words and actions, which people will respect and admire in a leader. Leaders with integrity are trustworthy, and they can be counted on to do what they say they will do.

People will obey an authentic leader and have integrity because they know ‌this person is reliable and sincere. To become an excellent leader, make sure that you are always honest and trustworthy to your word.

26. Be Compassionate

One of the essential leadership behaviours you need to be an excellent leader is to be compassionate. When you are compassionate, you have a deep understanding and feeling for others and can connect with them emotionally.

Compassionate leaders can see things from their followers’ perspectives and understand their feelings and needs. As a result, followers feel appreciated and valued by their leader, which builds trust and strengthens their relationship.

Closing Thoughts

So, what leadership behaviors do you need to be an excellent leader? The answer is simple – you need to ‌think on your feet, show empathy and compassion, and have a clear vision for the future. Leaders who can exhibit such qualities will be successful in any field.

Do you know any other leadership behaviours crucial to becoming a successful leader? Tell us in the comments below-

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Thanks for reading!!