10 qualities of a great leader; Do we have what it takes to be a leader?
Posted by: Malik Mirza on: August 29, 2010
“I want to lead in my job”
“I want to lead in my business”
“I want to lead in my work”
Do we have what it takes to lead? At home or work, there are people who lead and there are people who follow. People generally want to be a leader. However, the question is: Do we have what it takes to be a lead? Here are ten attributes of a leader:
1. Courage:
A leader is courageous – No one would like to follow a person without courage. Non-courageous leader cannot lead for long!
2. Self control:
A person who cannot control himself / herself cannot control others
3. Justice:
Can a leader be unjust? Can he / she treat some people one way and some people other way?
4. Definiteness of decision:
A person who leads is steadfast in his / her decision.
5. Definiteness of plans:
Successful leader must plan his work and works his plan. It is also said: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!
6. Habit of doing more than paid for:
A leader has courage to deliver more than expected from him / her. People who deliver what is expected of them are, generally, followers.
7. A pleasing personality:
A careless person cannot be a leader. Followers will not respect the leader who does not has a pleasing personality.
8. Sympathy and understanding:
A great leader understands people. He / She understands problems of people and strive to find solution.
9. Mastery of details:
A person who is not keen on details cannot hold the leadership position for long.
10. Willingness to assume full responsibility:
The successful leader assumes full responsibility of work done by his / her followers. If one of the followers fail, leader considers that he has failed! If a person in the team is successful, leader give full credit to that person for success and celebrates the team work!
So, do we have what it takes to be a leader? Share your thoughts
The above ideas are from Napoleon Hill’s best selling book: Think and Grow Rich.
29 Responses to "10 qualities of a great leader; Do we have what it takes to be a leader?"
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July 5, 2011 at 7:04 pm
Malik Mirza is a great resource who shares his knowledge in an easy way by making it interesting for the readers.
July 6, 2011 at 10:20 am
Thanks Adeel for appreciation
July 24, 2011 at 4:51 pm
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July 24, 2011 at 6:52 pm
Thanks Sergio – You may use any article from my blog – appreciate if you can just put a link to my website. Also, may I request you to visit my redesigned website which is updated on a regular basis. It is http://www.wisdomfrombooks.com. Let me know if you wish me to write something for your website – good luck!
June 25, 2011 at 1:42 pm
These are really great, but I think you should have added honesty…
this is really an essential quality.dont you tnink so….. 
June 25, 2011 at 10:21 pm
I agree with you – honesty is one of the qualities which should be present in the leaders – the question is: what do we really mean by honestay? A liar can be honest! What do you think?
December 24, 2010 at 5:39 pm
These are all great attributes to have, and surely will make a great leader. I was just wondering that one thing i.e. Oratory, is missing. Maybe we can include it under your heading of “Pleasing Personality”.
Oratory is very important. I’m sure you’ll agree with me. How and what one says, has such a profound effect on the listeners. Some people can talk for hours but most of it is useless stuff. While great leaders, say a lot very precisely.
December 24, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Thanks Umair for comments. There are leaders with great oratory skills and there are leaders without great oratory skills but those are still great leaders… Take a look around and see. I agree that oratory is one of the essential skills but not ‘the’ most essential skill. Your comment on pleasing personality heading seems adequate – thanks for sharing your thoughts
December 25, 2010 at 7:14 am
Here’s a list of some great orators in the past:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_speaking#Noted_orators
This talent did give these super-heroes more control over their audience. Otherwise Alexander the Great would not have been able to make his troops fight galantly over and over again.
However, I take your point that a leader with a sublime character and a charismatic personality need not be a good orator.
December 21, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Dear Malik,
I really appreciate your work and efforts. Please keep it up and surely reasers will get good guidance from this.
Looking forward for more value stuff being posted.
Thnaks
December 23, 2010 at 2:37 pm
Dear Zaman sb – thanks for your appreciation and comments. Kindly inform others about the blog to have comments and learning from other readers. Thanks once again.
December 4, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Good point, though sometimes it’s hard to arrive to definite conclusions
October 3, 2010 at 10:46 am
I have seen that people tend to find arguments in favor of/against what they wish the result to be.
For those who see leadership an inherited, they could quote tons of examples where leaders were leaders because they inherited it.
For others who believe in work, leaders have to burn the midnight oil learning the skills and practicing those.
In the end, its about ourselves. If we want to do something, we would find a way to do it, and if not, then we would find an excuse for not doing it!!
September 12, 2010 at 5:54 am
hey that is a great work. Plus, the leaders are not made instead they are born. so if you are a born leader you already posses these qualities. it’s all about enhancing them.
September 13, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Dear Tariq – thanks for visiting and your comments – Skills can be learnt and a person can learn to become a leader…..
September 5, 2010 at 1:38 am
Great Malik Bai,
I am working on One right now
Willingness to assume full responsibility:
August 31, 2010 at 2:20 am
Malik, you are the best!!! Thanks for your time and sincere effort for posting us these words of wisdom!!
Sheila
August 31, 2010 at 9:46 am
Thanks Sheila for your kind words and visiting the blog – Keep visiting and sharing your thoughts
August 30, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Aslamo aliqum
thanks dear its really a good overview of the qualities of a good leader
August 30, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Dear Malik
I would like to thank you so much for these useful and reach web and information and like to say to you Go On and may our beloved God bless you
Derar
November 18, 2011 at 9:14 pm
thanks bro this really helped with my trip to hoby on what it takes to be a leader