7 Traits of the Best Leaders: Lessons from a Wisdom Seeker

I’ve been a wisdom seeker all my life. Thankfully, I have had some great leadership influencers in my life and I have sought to learn from each of them. They have some common observed traits.

Beginning with my high school principal when I was student body president. He taught me to take responsibility for my actions, but not to trip over my own humility. There was a man with whom I worked in college, who took interest in me. I was technically his “boss,” but he was every bit the leader to this young, inexperienced, first-term manager. He taught me I cannot lead alone. I may be the leader, but there is no leader without people.

I’ve been blessed with good role models. And I have had some leaders who were not so good. Such as the guy who threw my sales book at me across the room. Or the one who criticized me for something literally every week.

Looking back, though, the best leaders I ever had shared some common traits. There were things that set them apart from other leaders, helped them be successful, and caused me to take notice in them.

7 Observed Traits of the Best Leaders

1. A character worthy of following.

They were the same people on the job as they were off the job. These leaders kept their word, but didn’t over-commit themselves to things they couldn’t do. I trusted their word, mostly because their actions backed up what they said. They loved their families and other people—including me.

2. Believed in me more than I believed in myself.

They told me I had what it takes. These leaders encouraged me to pick my head up after a mistake. From them I received courage to succeed. They encouraged my dreams, but they equally provided me a sense of reality.

3. Available to me when I needed them.

They didn’t micromanage me. I was free to make decisions on my own, but they were there when I had a question, needed some advice, or they sensed I could use a word of encouragement.