Qualities of a Leader

Every now and then we like to collate the latest thinking on a subject and create a condensed but integral list of highlights. This week we've pulled together some of the latest research on desirable, leadership qualities and translated them into terms we can understand and communicate.

So, in no particular order here are the qualities considered to be vital for leadership in the 21st century.

Ambition - A desire for success with respect to career progression, status and productivity.

Initiative - The willingness to take action by exerting additional effort to exceed expectations.

Energy - A high degree of stamina and the ability to maintain a high rate of activity is revealed as a key determinant of effective leadership.

Need for power - The satisfaction a leader derives from exerting influence over the attitudes and behaviours of others is a key driver of successful leaders. The motive to influence is associated with seeking positions of authority, being attuned to the political climate of the organisation, and the assertiveness needed to direct group activities and advocate for desired changes to the organization and as such, is a frequently proposed antecedent of effective leadership.

Honesty/integrity - The correspondence between a person's words and deeds as well as being truthful and non-deceitful. People are less likely to be influenced by someone they do not trust.

Creativity – Coming up with novel and innovative solutions to problems to effectively resolve business issues together with an ability to challenge followers to consider alternative approaches to address organisational challenges.

Self-monitoring - The ability to understand and manage your feelings, thoughts and behaviours in each and every situation. Positive and negative.

Flexibility - The ability to alter one’s behaviour depending on the demands of the situation.

Interpersonal skills - An understanding of the dynamics of human behaviour and groups, together with an ability to communicate effectively at every level.

Problem-solving - The ability to think logically and to exercise sound judgment to resolve organisational issues.

Decision making - The ability to take decisive action when facing ambiguous challenges.


There are still many old and familiar themes here so the work continues.