21 Qualities of Leaders

1. Character: foundation of leadership

Leadership is to bring out the ability and willpower of people towards a common goal. It can trigger self-confidence from people.

2. Charisma: First impression can affect overall situation

How to develop one’s charisma? To actively help others and to affirm oneself instead of eagerly asking others to affirm you.

3. Commitment: difference between dreamer and doer

People do not follow indecisive leaders. One’s commitment level can be shown from many things: your working hours, your determination to improve, your sacrifice for people whom you serve...etc.

4. Communication: you’d only be walking by yourself by you lack it

Leaders need to transform their knowledge and vision into enthusiasm and passion in order to pass them on to others. If a leader cannot clearly spread the message and encourage others to join, the message is useless.

5. Competence: people will follow you if you have it

Competence is beyond the level of words. It is the leader’s ability to communicate, plan and execute so that others can trust your leadership and are willing to follow you.

6. Courage: one who is courageous is better than many

An important virtue of men is courage, because it can fuel other virtues during times of difficulties.

7. Discernment: no mystery unsolved

Smart leaders only believe half of what they hear; only discerning leaders know which half to believe in.

8. Focus: the clearer you focus, the less confused you will be

What people say, what people do and what people say they’ll do can be completely unrelated.

9. Generosity: if your candles can light up other candles, then it’ll burn forever

Nobody obtains honour for getting things. Honour is a reward for giving.

10. Initiative: don’t leave home if you don’t bring it with you

Success is impossible without actions. Successful people continuously engage in something. Although they make mistakes at times, they never quit.

11. Listening: to win others’ heart, please use your ears

A good leader always encourages others to voice what she/he needs to know, not what she/he wants to hear.

12. Passion: One life only, use it fully

If one doesn’t love his job, there will not be success.

13. Positive attitude: if you believe in yourself, you will be able to achieve

In this generation, our biggest discovery is that we can change out attitude to change our lives.

14. Problem-solving: don’t let your difficulties stumble you.

You can evaluate the ability of a leader by the magnitude of the problems she/he handles. We usually choose to resolve issues that we can manage.

15. Relationships: if you are easy-going, people are more willing to follow you.

One important tip to success is to know how to live with others.

16. Initiative: don’t leave home if you don’t bring it with you

Success is impossible without actions. Successful people continuously engage in something. Although they make mistakes at times, they never quit.

17. Security: Even very able person cannot live without it.

If one only wishes oneself to succeed and to take all credits, one can never be an outstanding leader. She/he cannot provide a sense of security to the others. She/he will restrict brilliant people and limit potential development of the organisation.

18. Self-discipline: before leading, learn self-discipline

Talents without self-discipline are like an octopus wearing ice-skates. There are nonstop movements, but it is unclear whether the octopus is moving forward, moving backward or spinning.

19. Servanthood: if you want to stand before men, remain behind them at first

True leaders serve the others and consider the benefits of the others. Although they may be unwelcome or unappreciated at times, they don’t mind. It is because true leaders treat others with passion instead of being driven by self-glorification. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for others.

20. Teachability: nonstop leading, nonstop learning

The time you spend to listen and to read should be ten times as much as the amount of time you use to talk. This attitude will ensure your continual learning and growth.

21. Vision: you can only grasp what you see

To own the future is to firmly hold onto opportunities before they manifest fully.

References:

約 翰．麥斯威爾著，徐顯光譯 (2000)﹕《天生領袖─領導21特質》。台北：道聲出版社。

Maxwell, John C. (1999). The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow. Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson Publishers.