Leadership skills for success: 24 key qualities that make a great leader

Organizations rely on leadership to drive growth and remain profitable. With good leadership, they are more likely to sustain business success and retain employees. Filipino work culture, in particular, puts great emphasis on strong, competent leadership. 

If you are in a leadership role, it is essential to learn about the leadership skills that can make you more effective in your role.  

In this article, we’ll break down the characteristics of a good leader, offer leadership skills examples in action, and provide concrete tips to improve your leadership skills. Here’s what we’ll cover: 

• What is leadership
• What are leadership skills?
• Leadership skills: What qualities make a good leader?
• How to improve your leadership skills
• Great leaders aren’t born – they build these key skills
• FAQs

What is leadership?  

Leadership is the ability to guide, inspire, and support a group of people to achieve a common goal. 

It’s not just about holding a title – it’s about having the skills to make thoughtful decisions and bringing out the best in people. Great leaders listen, adapt, and lead by example, whether they’re managing a team or stepping up in everyday situations. 

What are leadership skills? 

Leadership skills are the characteristics and qualities that guide and inspire others toward shared objectives. Leadership plays a crucial role across various career paths, whether it is in business, education, sports, or community service.

Leadership is about more than just telling people what to do; it's about setting a vision, motivating others, and guiding them to achieve success. Unlike management, which focuses on tasks and processes, leadership is about inspiring people to do their best and fostering innovation and growth.

A good leader possesses several key traits that set them apart from others. Firstly, they have strong decision-making abilities. This enables them to weigh options and make choices confidently.

Secondly, they have a clear vision for the future and can communicate it effectively to others, inspiring them to work towards common goals. Additionally, good leaders strive to establish a positive and productive work environment and have the capacity to motivate and encourage their team members. 

Overall, strong leadership skills are essential for success in various fields. They enable leaders to guide, inspire, and bring out the best in others, driving the team towards achievement and growth. 

Leadership skills: What qualities make a good leader? 

Effective leadership is about more than just authority. Great leaders can guide and inspire the whole team effectively. They not only achieve results but also cultivate a supportive work environment where individuals thrive. 

Traits like integrity, empathy, accountability, transparency, and good communication skills are some of the most important characteristics of a good leader. 

Integrity, marked by honesty and fairness, fosters trust within teams. While empathy helps leaders connect with team members. Accountability ensures leaders take responsibility. On the other hand, transparency promotes openness. Effective communication facilitates collaboration.

Some valuable leadership skills examples include:

1. Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. This quality makes you more approachable. Team members feel safe expressing themselves. 

To be an empathetic leader, you should practice being an active listener. Pay full attention to others when they speak, without interrupting or judging. Additionally, try to imagine yourself in their situation. This helps you better understand their perspective and emotions. 

Leading by example is another key aspect of empathy. This could involve acknowledging and validating others' feelings, offering support when they need it, and treating everyone with respect and kindness. 

Here’s an example of how to demonstrate empathy in the workplace as a leader. Let’s say your team member is struggling with family issues. You could connect them with mental health resources and support them by taking urgent work off their plate.

2. Integrity

Integrity means sticking to your beliefs and values, which is essential for being a trustworthy leader. 

As a leader, honesty, responsibility, and adherence to moral and ethical principles set a strong moral standard for your team. 

Show integrity in your actions by consistently following your beliefs and acting professionally. Additionally, be open to admitting mistakes and seek helpful advice to maintain your integrity and trustworthiness.

For example, if you miss a project deadline, you should acknowledge what went wrong and share your plan to fix it. Your honesty builds trust and encourages your team to act with accountability and transparency, too.

3. Strong communication skills

Communication means sharing information effectively. Being a good communicator is crucial for successful leaders. It enables you to gain trust, explain things to your team, and motivate and encourage them.

Additionally, effective communication helps in relationship building with your team, enabling you to manage conflicts and handle disagreements better. Always be truthful and clear, ask questions, and communicate openly with others to foster clarity and alignment within your team.

One good way to demonstrate strong communication is by clearly sharing goals and expectations with your team. For instance, you might kick off a project with a brief, focused meeting to outline KPIs and timelines. This keeps everyone on the same page and reduces confusion.

4. Active listening

Active listening means fully concentrating on what is being said rather than just passively hearing. 

As a leader, you must enhance understanding and show respect for your team members' opinions through active listening. To improve your active listening skills, focus on the speaker, avoid interrupting, and ask clarifying questions to ensure clear communication and alignment within the team.

One scenario where active listening is crucial would be when your team member is sharing a concern. This is your cue to listen without interrupting, show empathy for their perspective, and respond thoughtfully to each of their points. 

5. Accountability

Accountability is a key trait of good leadership for someone like you. It means owning up to your actions and their results, acting with honesty, and recognizing team members when they deserve it.

As a leader, you encourage others to take responsibility by being accountable. To develop this quality further, admit your mistakes and take ownership of your words, choices, and deeds.

Let’s say you’ve promised to deliver a report by Friday, but you can’t meet that deadline. Demonstrate accountability by communicating this delay to your team ahead of time and apologizing. When your team sees you taking responsibility, they’re more likely to do the same.

6. Positivity

Positivity involves maintaining a hopeful attitude. As a leader, it is important to be resilient and self-understanding to stay positive through challenges and uplift your team's morale.

Remember, positivity not only boosts team morale but also helps overcome challenges. To enhance positivity, focus on solutions rather than problems and pinpoint areas for improvement to sustain a positive outlook.

For example, it’s possible for a project you’re managing to hit a setback at some point. Focus on solutions, highlight small wins, and motivate your team to keep moving forward. Your optimism helps boost morale and creates a can-do atmosphere at work.

7. Confidence

Confidence involves having faith in your skills. It is a vital quality for successful leaders like you. 

Use your confidence to inspire and encourage your team. Make decisions swiftly in tough situations and create plans to drive good results.

You can improve your confidence by practicing self-affirmation and being realistic. Confidence also has an impact on other leadership skills, such as taking calculated risks, correcting errors, and implementing change to meet professional goals.

One way to demonstrate confidence is to make clear decisions and stand by them. If you’re leading a project, outline your vision calmly while inviting feedback. Your assurance helps your team to feel secure in the direction you're guiding them toward.

8. Innovation

Innovation involves your imaginative thinking and the creation of fresh concepts. Exploring alternative approaches drives an organization forward and is fundamental to effective leadership.

As a leader, prioritise innovation and endorse taking risks. View failure as a valuable learning experience. Value expertise and welcome new ideas from your team to foster a culture of creativity.

Imagine you’re encountering problems when implementing a new workflow. Being innovative means that you invite your team to brainstorm improvements and test out new tools. By being open to change, you’ll create a culture where creativity and growth can thrive.

9. Resilience

Resilience refers to your capacity to bounce back from setbacks. 

As a leader, being resilient involves showing courage, emotional fortitude, and professionalism. It empowers you to make sound, logical decisions and inspire confidence in your team. Resilience helps you navigate through setbacks and maintain focus on goals.

To enhance resilience, you need to maintain a positive mindset, foster emotional intelligence, and establish a support system to gain perspective.

Here’s an example: you find out that a major client isn’t renewing their contract with your company. As a resilient leader, you can’t dwell on what went wrong or show a discouraged attitude towards your team. Instead, you need to regroup quickly and shift your team’s strategy towards finding new opportunities.

10. Strategic thinking

Strategic thinkers plan for the future by analyzing patterns and trends. Being in a leadership position requires you to anticipate challenges and plan resources and support accordingly. You need to understand, analyze, and implement plans, especially in difficult situations. 

To hone this skill, practice scenario planning and stay informed about industry trends. Additionally, set SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound – for your team. This will set them up for long-term success.

For instance, when setting annual goals for your team, you can practice strategic thinking by analyzing market trends and aligning tasks with long-term objectives. This helps your team work smarter and progress toward meaningful results.

11. Transparency

Transparency is a fundamental quality of effective leadership. Having open and honest communication with your team gives rise to a positive and transparent workplace culture. It creates an environment that is free of assumptions and misunderstandings. 

To enhance transparency, you need to clarify your decisions, provide concise information to your team, and openly share both good and bad news.

Picture a scenario in which your company is restructuring. Transparency means that you explain to your team what’s happening upfront, how it might impact roles, and what support is available. It might be tough to deliver bad news, but it ensures that your team feels informed and included.

12. Vision

Having a vision means defining clear long-term goals. An exceptional leader establishes a clear path by anticipating challenges and communicating them to the team. 

A clear vision motivates and guides the team towards a common purpose. It helps them navigate difficult times and stay inspired. You can cultivate vision through self-reflection and maintaining a positive mindset. Consider developing a clear vision statement and communicating it to your team.

You can demonstrate vision by clearly outlining where your team is headed and why it matters. During your next quarterly meeting, make it a point to discuss your long-term goals, explain how current projects contribute, and inspire your team to aim higher.

13. Creativity

Creative leaders have the ability to think uniquely, generate inventive ideas, and collaborate to achieve common goals.

Working with diverse teams, encouraging the exploration of new approaches and learning from mistakes will make you an innovative leader. Strive to nurture curiosity and engage in experimentation. This will enhance your creative thinking and encourage a culture of innovation and problem-solving.

The real test of your creative leadership comes when challenges pop up. For example, when customer engagement drops, you could lead a brainstorming session to develop a bold new campaign. By thinking outside the box, you show your team that it’s okay to take creative risks.

14. Problem-solving

Problem solving is the ability to find solutions to difficult or complex issues. As an effective leader, you should identify the root causes of problems and propose solutions to your team.

Maintain an open-minded perspective and look at mistakes as opportunities to encourage growth. Successful problem-solvers often use a systematic approach to recognize and analyze problems.

Think about what happens if a key supplier for your company suddenly falls through. You’ll need to draw on problem-solving skills to quickly assess alternatives, negotiate with new vendors, and adjust timelines. The key is to stay calm and resourceful as you navigate these obstacles.

15. Responsibility

Responsibility means being reliable and accountable for your actions. It involves stepping up to make tough decisions and advocating for diversity and inclusion at work.

Responsible leaders tackle problems promptly and strive for positive change. Prioritising tasks and fulfilling commitments are key aspects of being responsible.

For example, when a campaign you’re leading underperforms, it’s down to you to step up and review what went wrong. Take initiative to adjust the business strategy and involve your team in finding solutions. Show that you’re accountable while helping your team to learn from the experience.

16. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is one of the crucial characteristics of a good leader. It helps you look at arguments carefully, come to fair conclusions, and give helpful feedback. 

Before you decide on something, as a leader you should make sure to look at the facts instead of guessing. You can get better at this quality by questioning assumptions and considering multiple perspectives. 

If you’re evaluating a new software your team wants to adopt, for example, critical thinking is key. Instead of jumping in, you compare features, assess long-term value, and weigh team feedback against budget constraints. This approach ensures that your decision supports both the team’s immediate needs and future goals.

17. Decision-making

Decision-making involves choosing the best way forward from different choices by weighing the pros and cons. It is closely linked to thinking strategically and helps teams reach their objectives. 

As a leader, it is important to gather all the information you need and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option. You should use your gut feeling along with what you have learned from the past to make smart choices. Working closely with your team and others involved is vital for making big decisions.

Here’s an example: you demonstrate decision-making when facing two competing project proposals. After reviewing the data, consulting your team, and considering deadlines and impact, you’re able to confidently choose the option that best aligns with business goals.

18. Decisiveness

Decisiveness means being able to make quick and effective decisions. As a good leader you need to make choices that are well-timed and based on good information, especially when things are difficult. 

To be decisive, you should be able to adapt to different situations. You also need to be confident in yourself and be fair when making decisions. It is important to trust your instincts and believe in your judgment rather than second-guessing yourself.

Let’s say that you’re the project manager of an urgent project that has hit an unexpected roadblock. That’s when decisiveness comes into play: you quickly assess the situation, put together a Plan B, and delegate tasks. Your swift action avoids delays and gives your team the confidence to tackle the challenge head-on.

19. Building relationships

Great leaders excel in building relationships. They use their social skills to create and maintain positive connections with others. 

Being genuine, communicating well, and recognizing the team's efforts are essential for building strong relationships. These relationships make the work environment better. 

Strive to practice participative management by involving your staff in decision-making rather than making top-down decisions. It fosters inclusivity and enhances team collaboration. 

Most importantly, make time to connect with team members beyond daily tasks. When a new colleague joins, you can schedule a one-on-one chat to understand their goals. This personal approach creates trust and shows you genuinely care about the people you lead. 

20. Delegation

Another key skill of great leaders is redirecting and assigning tasks to others. Delegating work to your team members helps them acquire new skills, enhancing the team's overall performance.  

Take time to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of team members. This will help you assign tasks that match their abilities. Be sure to give clear instructions before delegating responsibilities. 

For instance, if your team is preparing for a big presentation, delegate team members to design the visuals and handle the data analysis while you work on the key messaging. Not only does this boost efficiency, but it also helps everyone grow in their presentation skills. 

21. Flexibility

Flexibility is about being able to change your approach when things do not go as expected, and still perform effectively. Flexible leaders are good at adapting to new requirements, challenges, and trends.  

Flexibility enables you to navigate through uncertain and ever-changing situations with ease. To enhance flexibility, you must maintain an open mindset towards new ideas and different ways of doing things. Being willing to adjust to changing circumstances is a hallmark of adaptable leaders. 

Think about a common situation that often crops up at work: you get client feedback that forces your project timeline to shift suddenly. Instead of sticking rigidly to the original plan, you need to adjust priorities and reassign tasks. It’s also important to support your team through the changes and keep everyone focused on delivering their best results. 

22. Mentoring

Mentoring involves guiding and supporting the less experienced team members. It plays a crucial role in the development of future leaders.  When team members gain new skills and knowledge, it contributes to the overall strength of the team. 

To excel in mentoring, it is essential to actively share your knowledge and expertise with your mentees. Additionally, provide constructive feedback on their progress and encourage them to ask questions. This will foster a supportive learning environment where they can thrive and grow professionally. 

For example, you’ve noticed that a junior team member is struggling with a client report. Mentor them by walking them through the process again and sharing feedback on their draft. Your encouragement will boost their confidence and help them develop skills for future success. 

23. Reliability

Reliability means being someone others can depend on. It includes building trust and ensuring others' expectations are always met.

As a leader, enhancing reliability involves efficient time management so you can deliver on your commitments. Above all, always follow through on promises you make. Consistent action solidifies trust in your capabilities and reinforces your effectiveness as a leader. 

When your team counts on you to submit a budget proposal, you coordinate all the moving parts and deliver it on time. Your reliability builds trust and sets a standard that encourages others to stay accountable, too. 

24. Commitment

Commitment means being dedicated to both your job at hand and the organization's mission. You can lead by example by consistently showing dedication through your actions. Set personal goals that not only help you grow but also align closely with the organization's objectives.

This way, you can motivate your team to work hard, tackle problems, and stay resilient. Your commitment will inspire your team and lead everyone to success.

For example, if you’re facing delays on a key client project, you put in extra hours alongside your team to get things done. You’re there to help solve problems and keep spirits high as a leader. This commitment motivates your team members to stay focused and give their best.

How to improve your leadership skills 

Here are some ways you can improve your leadership skills:

• Set goals: Develop a growth mindset by setting goals to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Commit to working on them to enhance your leadership style.
• Focus on personal development: Engage in regular self-reflection by developing an open mind and positive attitude. Accept responsibility for failures and learn from them.
• Take initiative: Step out of your comfort zone and take initiative during challenging situations. This can help you learn and grow as a leader.

Great leaders aren’t born – they build these key skills  

Leadership isn’t natural – the best leaders work hard on their leadership skills, such as integrity, resilience, creativity, and transparency.  

These traits of a leader allow you to build trust in the workplace and improve team performance, ultimately laying the foundation for a successful organization. To excel as a strong leader, reflect on your leadership qualities and commit to continuous learning and self-improvement.  

FAQs 

Here are some FAQs related to leadership abilities:

1. What are the top three characteristics of a good leader?
   ⁠There are some important leadership skills that all leaders should possess. Three of these include integrity, innovation, and communication
   ⁠All good leaders should be reliable and capable of building trust through open communication and constructive feedback. They should encourage team members to think differently and collaborate.
2. How can I develop my leadership skills?
   ⁠A good place to start is with communication. You can do this through active listening and working on your verbal and written communication skills. Take initiative and develop critical thinking skills while working on challenging projects. 
3. Can you learn leadership skills, or are they innate?
   ⁠The trait theory of leadership suggests that leadership qualities are innate, or inborn, personality traits. However, you can cultivate and nurture certain traits through continuous improvement. For instance, you can work on active listening by being observant and paying attention when people are talking. 
4. What role does emotional intelligence play in leadership?
   ⁠Effective leaders often have a high degree of emotional intelligence. This is the ability to understand and manage your emotions and those of others. Emotional intelligence helps you communicate better, achieve conflict resolution, and build good relationships with team members. 
5. How do leadership styles impact team performance?
   ⁠Leadership styles can determine how teams function and perform. Transformational leadership, for instance, focuses on inspiring and motivating employees through innovation to achieve shared goals. It can enhance team performance, job satisfaction, and engagement.
6. What is the difference between a leader and a manager?
   ⁠The main difference between a leader and a manager is the area of focus. Leaders focus on guiding and inspiring people to work on shared objectives together. They use their interpersonal skills to develop relationships, perform conflict management, and foster a positive work atmosphere. 
   ⁠Managers focus on coordinating, strategizing, and overseeing resources to meet objectives within an organization. They need organizational and time management skills to monitor employees, make procedures more efficient, and ensure daily operations go smoothly without interruption.