15 things a true leader should always do

We have all admired a person for their leadership ability, but do you really know why this happens? What do you admire about that person? To be a true leader you must have certain qualities that not everyone has. You can achieve it, but being aware that you will need a lot of effort and a lot of knowledge about the skills that you must develop, as well as knowing how to maintain them over time.

High-profile leaders often have a lot in common. Discover what 15 qualities they have managed to develop and how you can apply them in your daily life.

The 15 main qualities of a leader

1. Share your vision of goals

The most important thing a leader must do is provide his team with his vision in order to achieve the goal they have set for the company. You must communicate effectively and frequently with your employees.

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2. Be competent in work matters

The most annoying thing for an employee is working for a boss who doesn’t really understand the job. The leader does not have to be an expert in every field of work because it is impossible, but he does have to be competent at all levels.

3. Respect people’s time

Great leaders have little tolerance for boring meetings and avoid wasting time when it isn’t necessary.

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4. Set priorities

When a person tries to focus on too many things, they end up not focusing on anything specific. An intelligent boss understands and realizes that a lack of concentration can ruin all the tasks that you want to carry out, since you do not concentrate 100% on just one. Lack of priorities means the team is not moving in the right direction.

5. Share information

There are some greedy bosses who do not like to share information, not realizing that they are only hurting their company and the performance of their employers. A transparent leader can assume that the team trusts him and that he earns the loyalty of his employees.

6. Make decisions

Quickness when making decisions is one of the most important qualities of a leader. You always have to be prepared to try to counteract possible setbacks and make the best determination for the objectives of your company.

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7. Praise your employees

True bosses know how to recognize when their employees are doing well and are heading in the right direction. Therefore, praising them helps employees’ self-esteem and performance.

8. Show empathy

Great bosses are able to put themselves in the shoes of their employees and understand what they are going through. This does not mean that they are weak, on the contrary they show that they are concerned about their team on multiple levels.

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9. Give thanks

The boss should always have time to thank the people around him for their good performance and for their time when collaborating with the company.

10. Work as a team

A great leader recognizes the talents of his team members and strives to lead them in a way that allows everyone to maximize their effectiveness together.

11. Ask smart questions

Leaders are not willing to accept that things should be done in a certain way for the sole reason that they were like this in the past. They like to test hypotheses with respect.

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12. Respect the lives of others

They recognize that people are not only a work tool, but also people. Work has to be your priority, however it does not mean that it is the only thing in your life. They recognize that their employees have spouses, children, and friends that they need to care for.

13. Hire the right people

The most important role of a leader is to recruit the right people to form your team.

14. Accept the apologies

Ethical people accept blame for their mistakes. Great bosses go one step further, accepting collective blame when the team makes a mistake. A leader guides them to move forward.

15. Have a sense of humor

Great leaders do not have to be jokers, however they must have a sense of humor so as not to put excessive pressure on their employees.

Reference

  • Bill Murphy Jr. 20 Things truly great leaders do every day. For Businessinsider [Revised March 2016]