Top 7 Traits of a True Leader

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By Brenda Chaddock

There are some common traits found in a powerful leader. You may already have some of these true leader traits- and others can be developed if a goal in your life is to become a true leader. Remember, you don’t have to want to lead an army to reap the benefits of learning leadership skills.

The top seven traits of a true leader include:

  1. Knowing when to delegate tasks.An important skill for a leader to learn- delegating to others means that you must identify the strengths and weaknesses of those on your team and capitalize on the strengths by passing out tasks accordingly.
  2. Maintain a positive attitude. Keeping your team upbeat and optimistic means that you must maintain a positive attitude and present an energetic front. There must be productivity to meet goals, but you should be able to balance the working hours with some fun times. When those around you see your positive attitude, it will rub off.
  3. Be ethical and honest. Hold yourself and those who work with you to a high level of honesty and ethical conduct. Your family and followers are reflections of you, so if you practice honest and ethical behavior, they will follow your pattern.
  4. Ability to communicate.Ronald Reagan was known as “The Great Communicator,” and looking back at his lifestyle, it’s easy to understand why. He was able to clearly explain and focus on what needed to be done and express it in a way that was understood. If you have trouble communicating, read books or take a course in achieving better communication skills.
  5. Ability to commit. George Patton, commanding general in World War II was a soldier who got up close and personal to those under his command. He fought in the trenches and made it a point to be wherever his men were experiencing difficulty. As a leader, you must make a commitment to lead by example.
  6. Maintain a sense of humor. The day to day business of being a true leader can wear you down, but if you maintain a sense of humor through the discouraging times, your followers will maintain higher morale.
  7. Creativity. A leader should have the ability to change from a path they’re on to another path by taking a creative stance. Sometimes, the decision involves how you’re guiding others, but whatever the reason, creativity helps everyone work toward the goal you’re seeking.

You need to become a true leader of yourself if you want to accomplish great things or even meet small goals. Leading your family through trials and tribulations is another reason to know how to lead. If your aspiration is to become CEO of your own company, it’s vitally important that you know how to lead.

Brenda Chaddock, Gary Patterson and HRDQ-U are hosting a webinar January 10th at 2pm ET. Save your seat here! 

Brenda works globally as a facilitator, mentor, teacher and speaker, bringing to her work years and layers of education and experience in people development and living with vision. With a background in health care, adult education, leadership and family business transition, Brenda has worked privately, publicly, with government and corporate clients, both nationally and internationally, for the past 40 years. Currently through Limitless Leadership International, Brenda mentors and facilitates leadership development and practice. From a mindset that we have the opportunity to consciously be lifelong students of leadership, the journey is a pathway from study to success to significance. With a profound belief that ‘together we are stronger’ her focus with her clients is for them to ‘be all they aspire to be, as leaders, so that they can, collaboratively, do all they aspire to do.

Gary brings extensive organizational development experience after working in various organizations for over 25 years that included the United States Armed Forces, non-profit organizations and hospitals.  Gary’s approach to leadership is one of “passion and calling.”  He has a strong desire is to “Help Organizations successfully engage Great Futures with Compassionate Care for its People.”  His belief is, ”people matter and are the most important asset to any organization.”  He wants to see organizations move from “telling modes of leadership to asking ones” that enable workers at all levels to step into the realm of personal leadership who perform services from a “personal brand” of character.

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