Imagine being asked: "What is the most important factor for a company's success? This is not an easy question, because there are many decisive components of business success. However, the most popular answer would most likely be very clear - effective leadership.

What is effective leadership?

To lead efficiently means to have a vision of the future and to inspire and guide others in such a way that a common goal is achieved successfully and sustainably. A good leader is characterised by certain qualities and skills that should be constantly developed and trained. No leader is born with all these qualities and abilities, there is hard work and a lot of personal development behind it.

We have prepared 10 qualities of an excellent leader for you to learn and practice:

1. Integrity

Integrity is the cornerstone of all other leadership qualities.

You have the necessary integrity if you keep your word, set a good example and, no matter how difficult the situation is, inspire your employees and uphold your moral principles.

Leaders who show integrity stand up for what they believe in, which in turn leads to trust among colleagues and loyalty among customers.

2. Communication talent

An effective leader knows how to get his message across.

Good leaders are very conscious and learn from the behaviour of others, which gives them a deep understanding of human complexity and enables them to have an individual approach to their colleagues.

Honest and positive communication in the workplace is a fundamental tool for increasing productivity and maintaining good working relationships at every level of the company.

3. Self-confidence

To be an effective leader, you need to roll up your sleeves and take charge.

You need to be confident and make sure that your plans and vision are the best possible decision for the team. The self-management skills that help organise the daily company routine and reduce stress are also essential.

Good managers take full responsibility and act quickly without hesitation or ignoring any problems.

„You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.“
Rosalynn Carter

4. Empathy

A true leader has enough openness to understand the motivation, hopes, dreams and problems of their employees so that they can build a deep personal connection with them.

Empathy also includes conflict-free communication, which helps to foster dialogue, develop engagement and keep the team spirit high.

5. Innovative thinking

As an innovative leader you don't have to be a creative genius with thousands of ideas - it's more about giving others the freedom to develop their own ideas.

Innovative leaders are always looking for creativity and innovation. They actively listen and motivate their employees to think outside the box and to try something new with no fear.

6. Problem-solving approach

Good managers recognise and respond quickly to problems.

They think creatively and are able to find completely new ways of solving them.

They are capable of defining challenges in the company in time and choosing the best approach to achieve the highest results for the company.

7. Decision-making skill

Effective leaders make their decisions quickly.

Executives often have to make challenging decisions: in which direction to develop their company; whether to maintain or fire an employee; or even whether to tell their shareholders some "bad news".

As a leader, you should be prepared to make decisions at the right time, taking all the risk.

8. Passion

There is nothing more inspiring than seeing someone who really likes what they do - the best leaders show limitless energy and passion at work because they enjoy the process.

Since passion is highly contagious, it also motivates their employees and increases productivity in achieving the desired company's vision.

9. Delegation

Even the best leader never manages to do all the tasks in a company on his own.

The most important thing here is to focus on the main tasks and efficiently delegate the rest to others. When delegating tasks, you should provide your employees with all necessary resources, support them and give them the chance to take responsibility.

10. Ability to learn

Nowadays, managers who make decisions faster and apply change management sustainably are in great demand, as work requirements are constantly changing and evolving.

One of the visible examples is the Covid 19 crisis.

The pandemic had changed the landscape of work culture and managers had to find new strategic solutions to deal with some completely new challenges.

To succeed in the current world, we have no choice but to improve our ability to adapt and learn. Therefore, the ability to learn is one of the most important qualities of the modern agile leader..

Rome wasn't built in a day

Becoming the perfect leader is not an end result - it is an ongoing process.

The good thing about it is that you can develop and strengthen the essential skills and qualities over time.

The important thing to remember: effective leadership is only possible if you are prepared to be open - open to others, open to change and open to personal development. Strive for a clear and flexible leadership style and you will be able to watch your company flourishing from day to day.