The 10 personality traits of a leader

What are the personality traits that define a leader? In every organization there are objectives that must be met, and the existence (or not) of people who guide others is one of the keys to making things work.

Human groups (companies, political parties, unions ...) are characterized by investing a lot time and effort in detecting and developing the leaders of the future. The importance at this point is usually focused on the detection of profiles with good potential in intellectual, communicative, and even physical attributes. This vision presupposes that there are a known number of personal traits that a leader must have, traits that could have been well defined.

Characteristics of the leader's personality

The characterization of the leader's abilities has been studied from personal tests and also by observing behavior in group contexts. This line of study has managed to correlate almost all of the leadership traits.

Here we summarize the ten most prevalent personality traits in people with great leadership skills based on this research.

1. Communicative skills

Communication must operate in two directions: express ideas clearly and assertively, instructions and opinions, as well as getting the message heard and understood. The ability to listen and take into account all the opinions, individual and collective, that come to him is also typical of a leader.

2. Emotional intelligence

Researchers Salovey and Mayer (1990) initially characterized the Emotional intelligence as the "ability to manage one's own and others' emotions and feelings, to discern such feelings and to use this information to correspond with precise actions." Feelings mobilize the subject, so emotional intelligence is a key trait of the leader.

3. Ability to determine goals and objectives

The direction of a group requires knowing what should be the roadmap to guide it. In the absence of precise goals and objectives, the effort can be fruitless, and the group can feel frustrated. The objectives must be consistent with the capacity of the group: it is not effective to set unattainable goals.

4. Planning and development capacity

When the objectives have been set, it is essential to draw up a plan to achieve them. This plan must plan all the actions to be carried out, the times, the people who will carry them out, the resources that will be used ...

5. Proactive self-awareness

A good leader must be aware of its virtues and must get the most out of them. Obviously, he is also aware of his weaknesses, and struggles to try to improve.

6. Self-development and peer assistance

A leader is capable of growing while he helps others to develop. To improve, you don't need to do it "on the defensive"; you are not a slave to your group role or reputation. Help the group grow by teaching others, delegating tasks and creating spaces for action and communication so that other people feel useful and valued.

7. Innovation

Will try to find new and better ways of doing activities. This trait is essential in the context of a society that advances at a forced marches, with constant changes in technology, communications and high competitiveness.

8. Responsibility

Is aware that his position in the group gives him power, and knows how to use it to benefit the whole. It is not selfish; use your position to activate processes and energize potentials.

9. Information

A good leader must be informed. No corporation can survive without the presence of leaders who know how to handle information. Know the processing of information, interpret it correctly and with cunning and then use it in the most useful and creative way, is a key skill.

10. Charisma

This last point is controversial. Some authors believe that the trait of charisma has very different definitions, and that depending on which of they are used, it will be a characteristic present in people with leadership skills, or not. And it is that, in fact, it seems that there are even certain common facial features among leaders.

Defining the concept as the ability to attract and cause good feelingsAs well as attracting attention and being pleasant and empathetic in the eyes of other people, charisma is a crucial trait in a good leader. Charisma can be trained by socializing and showing an authentic interest in people. Charisma is related to the absence of selfishness, a factor that is decisive when it comes to perceiving a person as a leader.

Bibliographic references:

• Goleman, D. (2013). The power of Emotional Intelligence. Madrid: Editions B.

• Molero, F. and Morales J.F. (2011). The leader and his group: current views of leadership. Madrid. Editorial Alliance.

• Sánchez Vázquez, J. F. (2010). Leadership: theory and applications. Salamanca Pontifical University.