Is Leadership a trait by birth or practice?

The phrase “born leader” suggests that leadership qualities are inherent – either you possess the necessary skills from birth or don’t. While certain traits like charisma, humility, and humor may indeed have a genetic component, research involving both male and female twins indicates that only one-third of the variability in leadership attributes can be attributed to genetics.

In essence, critical leadership qualities can be acquired and honed over time, including skills such as effective communication, goal-setting, and strategic thinking. Many institutions, particularly in higher education, are increasingly acknowledging the efficacy of this perspective and implementing programs that focus on developing these leadership competencies. Rather than emphasizing inherent traits, these programs adopt a competency-based approach, breaking down essential skills into observable behaviors that students can learn, practice, and receive feedback on.

Defining a Successful Leader

A successful leader in any organization embodies a set of essential qualities. Such a leader offers guidance and inspires those within their sphere. Their leadership approach combines authority with a positive attitude, aiming to nurture the strengths of their team members and foster an open, honest, and productive work environment.

In addition to being authoritative and approachable, influential leaders exhibit a growth mindset. This mindset reflects a continuous focus on the company or organization’s shared goals and overarching mission.

1. They Possess Self-Awareness and Prioritize Personal Development

Effective leaders concentrate on enhancing their emotional intelligence. Those who actively cultivate this attribute demonstrate greater adaptability, resilience, and openness to feedback. They engage in active listening, embrace change, and excel in communication.

Developing Self-Awareness:

To promote this critical leadership quality, adopt the following behaviors:

• Set and Prioritize Goals: Take responsibility for setting and prioritizing goals, and hold yourself accountable for achieving them. Acknowledge any shortcomings or mistakes along the way.
• Focus on the Big Picture: Successful leaders avoid getting caught up in minor details, maintaining focus on the larger vision. Cultivate behaviors that facilitate adequate time and attention management.
• Establish Personal and Professional Boundaries: Set clear boundaries between your personal and professional life. Recognize that your work habits influence your team’s behavior, and avoid overworking to prevent setting unrealistic expectations.
• Acknowledge Strengths and Weaknesses: Stay aware of your strengths, weaknesses, and potential biases that may impact decision-making. Conduct self-assessments, seek feedback from your team, and establish measurable improvement goals in areas where growth is needed.
• Prepare for Setbacks: Accept that challenges and failures are inevitable. Anticipating such situations enables you to respond thoughtfully, preventing the escalation of difficult circumstances.

• They Prioritize the Development of Others

This leadership trait aligns with the principles of situational leadership theory, which emphasizes that effective leaders adapt to the readiness, willingness, and ability of individuals or groups to take specific actions. Delegating, coaching, and mentoring are crucial aspects of situational leadership.

Developing Others:

To demonstrate leadership through the development of others, exhibit the following behaviors within an organization:

• Build a Diverse Team: Recruit and develop a team with varied skills and backgrounds, providing them with the tools and space to cultivate trust among themselves.
• Coach with Empathy and Strength: As a coach, blend assertiveness with empathy. Effective leaders understand how to be both firm and compassionate simultaneously.
• Delegate Responsibilities: Although delegating can be challenging, it allows you to gauge the capabilities of a team. Accomplishing challenging tasks helps a team gain confidence and progress toward growth.
• Forge Genuine Connections: Establish authentic connections with individuals outside your organization. Actively seek out those who can strengthen your team, even if their expertise needs to align with current needs.
• Prioritize Training and Support: Emphasize training within your organization while maintaining a culture that enables team members to thrive. Echoing the sentiment of Richard Branson, prioritize the development of individuals to the extent that they are equipped to leave, yet create an environment where they are inclined to stay.

• They Foster Strategic Thinking, Innovation, and Proactive Action

As a leader, you must look ahead and contemplate the direction of the organization. Leadership entails considering both internal factors, such as product roadmaps and staffing needs, and external factors, including government regulations and technological advancements, when making strategic decisions for the business.

Developing Strategic Thinking:

To cultivate leadership qualities associated with strategic thinking, innovations, and proactive action, focus on the following behaviors:

• Embrace Flexibility: Maintain a flexible mindset and be open to new ideas, particularly in dynamic environments like startups, where company goals often evolve, and rigid plans may be challenging to adhere to.
• Show Genuine Interest: Demonstrate a sincere interest in your company and its industry. Your team will draw inspiration from your enthusiasm for the work or, conversely, may misinterpret apathy.
• Future Focus: Concentrate on the future, recognize that change is constant, and maintain a positive outlook amid evolving circumstances.
• Promote Creativity: Encourage creativity and innovation within your team through activities such as brainstorming or prototyping. Allow business units to explore new ideas stemming from these exercises.
• Define a Practical Vision: Establish a realistic vision and appropriate targets for your company, considering SMART goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.
• Informed Decision-Making: Make well-informed decisions. Leaders often face risky choices, but the ability to justify your chosen course of action is crucial. Your team will take cues from your decision-making approach, and demonstrating thoughtfulness helps build trust and confidence.

• They Uphold Ethical Standards and Civic Responsibility

Effective leaders carefully weigh the ethical implications of their decisions, considering the impact on both customers and team members.

Being Aware of Ethical Practices:

To enhance your awareness of ethical practices and civic-mindedness, adopt the following behaviors, reflecting a genuine concern for the well-being of your organization and the broader community:

• Exercise Power Appropriately: Use your power and authority judiciously, adhering to the principle that honesty is the best policy. When leaders are transparent and truthful with their employees, trust is reciprocated, fostering a culture of integrity within the entire organization.
• Embrace Openness and Authenticity: Be open, transparent, and authentic in your interactions. Ensure your team knows what to expect from you under all circumstances, fostering a sense of predictability and trust.
• Acknowledge Team Emotions: Recognize the emotions experienced by your team members. Acknowledge and praise those who succeed while encouraging and supporting those facing challenges. Avoid berating team members, either publicly or privately.
• Take Responsibility and Make Amends: Acknowledge your mistakes and hold yourself accountable. Extend this expectation to others on your team. However, go beyond mere acknowledgment by taking corrective action, even if it may temporarily impact the organization’s bottom line. In the long run, safeguarding your organization’s integrity and reputation outweighs any short-term costs.

• They Demonstrate Effective Cross-Cultural Communication

Respected leaders possess the ability to communicate clearly with individuals, various business units, the entire company, and external stakeholders. In an era of an increasingly globalized economy, leaders must also recognize and respect diverse communication traditions, notes Goode.

Developing Effective Communication:

To enhance the effectiveness of their communication, leaders should practice the following behaviors:

• Concise and Transparent Communication: Clearly explain everything, from organizational goals to specific tasks, concisely. Regularly communicate these goals and targets to ensure that everyone in the organization is aware of what is expected.
• Understanding Communication Nuances: Comprehend the nuances of communication across different channels such as phone, email, and social media. Identify your strengths and weaknesses in each mode and actively work on improvement.
• Infuse Enthusiasm and Confidence: Communicate with enthusiasm, confidence, inspiration, and excitement. Optimistic leaders convey a belief in their organization’s journey toward a better future, valuing the contributions of team members in achieving common goals.
• Adapt to Cultural Differences: Adjust your communication style to accommodate diverse cultural traditions. Some cultures prefer explicit, specific messages, while others rely on contextual understanding. Recognize variations in the expression of emotions across cultures.
• Emphasize Listening: Acknowledge that listening is as crucial as speaking in effective communication. Take the time to understand what others are saying and pay attention to unspoken cues. Pose follow-up questions to ensure a comprehensive understanding of their message.