7 qualities of an effective leader: How many do you have?

Are great leaders born or made? It’s a question that sparks debate in boardrooms and classrooms alike. 

Natural charisma or deep knowledge can give someone an advantage, but people almost always learn true leadership. It’s a skill you learn, practice, and refine over time.

Becoming a truly impactful leader isn’t just about climbing the ranks or working harder than everyone else. It’s about developing key qualities and regularly putting your team’s needs before your own.  

The seven most effective leadership qualities 

So, how do you measure up? Let’s explore the seven key traits that define great leaders and how you can develop them.

1. Being influential to your team and peers 

You’ve just been awarded a leadership position. You now have some influence over the employees on your team.

You can use this opportunity to influence your employees positively. Helping careers and developing skills generally affect how your team views the company. Or you can use your new position to instill a fear-based culture.

Unfortunately, many people in leadership roles use scare tactics and manipulation. Many a manager only has negative things to say that never help their employees.  If people aren’t willing to readily come to you with their work, your leadership style might need an adjustment.

Here are some ways to be influential to your employees:

• Be approachable, no matter the situation
• Have honest conversations
• Be consistent so your team knows where you stand at all times
• Lead by example
• Be passionate about your work
• Be fully present and practice active listening

These actions will help you earn your team’s trust and respect and create a positive impact. 

2. Recognising your employees' success

As a leader, it is easy to take credit for results or ideas that you present to others. If your CEO loves a proposal that didn’t come from you, give credit to the person who came up with it.

This in no way diminishes your skills or abilities. By highlighting your team’s strengths, you let their skills shine and show that you know how to nurture and recognise great work. 

Regularly acknowledging each team member’s success builds loyalty, boosts motivation, and fosters a positive work environment. This is one of the most important management qualities you can have in your arsenal. 

Tips for recognising your employees' successes

• Be specific with feedback: Instead of vague compliments, point out exactly what the employee did well. This shows you’re paying attention and reinforces positive behaviors.
• Celebrate publicly and one-on-one: Praise people in meetings, and also talk to them privately to make it feel more personal.
• Use different recognition methods: Mix verbal praise, written notes, or even small rewards to keep recognition fresh and meaningful.
• Encourage peer recognition: Create opportunities for team members to recognize each other’s contributions, fostering a supportive culture.
• Connect praise to company goals: Help employees understand how their work helps the whole team succeed. 

3. Making difficult decisions with grace

Those in leadership roles are often responsible for making hard decisions for their team. This can include things like cost-cutting measures or letting go of an employee who isn’t performing as they should. It means choosing the team’s direction and owning the results, good or bad. A good leader accepts responsibility for their decisions. 

Making tough choices isn’t easy, but how you handle them can define your leadership. It’s important to communicate decisions clearly and with empathy, helping your team understand the reasons behind them. 

Being transparent builds trust, even when the news is difficult. Being kind and supportive during tough times helps your team stay positive and keep moving forward. 

4. Acknowledging your mistakes 

Every leader is going to make mistakes. How you handle those mistakes makes all the difference and sets the tone for the team. 

Great leaders know how to acknowledge their mistakes straight away and then work to rectify them as quickly as possible. Doing anything less will cause you to lose your employees’ trust immediately.

Good leaders create a culture of honesty and mutual respect by admitting when they are wrong.
When employees know you will support them, they find it easier to admit a problem right away. 

This is not to say that you shouldn’t take the time to provide feedback. Just that you should focus on fixing the issue at hand first, and consequences second.

5. Focusing and listening to your team 

When you are having a conversation with an employee, you owe them your full concentration. Avoid distractions. Don’t check your email or social media accounts.

You may think you do this already. However, ask yourself, “When my team comes to me, do I turn away from my computer and phone? Or do I simply try to split my focus between the person in my office and various screens?” If you do the second, you are not truly listening.

Leaders listen carefully and then ask appropriate and relevant questions. They focus on recognising areas for improvement and solving problems. They think about the problem, as well as strategically about how it may affect their team in the future.

Managers need to listen to their team as it helps them identify issues and be proactive. This way, small problems don’t turn into crippling ones.

6. Delegating work where you can

If you're hiring the best, you should delegate work to them. A good leader trusts an employee and gives them the freedom to complete the task by relying on their judgment.

If you do this, you will free up your time to focus on higher business objectives and, more importantly, empower your team.

Your team has a myriad of secondary skills. Not to maximise their potential is to let these skills go to waste. Good leaders leverage their teams’ knowledge for everyone’s benefit.

Tips for effective delegation

• Know your team’s strengths: Match tasks to people’s skills and interests to boost efficiency and engagement.
• Be clear on expectations: Explain the desired outcome, deadlines, and any key details upfront.
• Avoid micromanaging: Give employees space to work in their way while staying available for support. Check in at agreed-upon points rather than constantly monitoring progress.
• Trust their judgment: Show confidence in their abilities. This builds ownership and accountability.
• Provide resources and support: Make sure they have what they need to succeed, including time and tools.
• Give feedback and recognition: Acknowledge their efforts and share constructive input to help them grow.

7. Having a strategic hiring process 

Real leaders recognise the different strengths of each member of their team. They will also proactively identify any knowledge gaps and have a hiring process to fill them.

Nurture your relationship with the HR team, so they know of any skills gaps you are experiencing. That way, when you need to hire, they know what to look for.

The same goes for working with an agency. By speaking up early about your team’s needs, a recruitment agency can determine the right talent ahead of time. 

Keep your focus on continually learning and refining your leadership traits. Doing so will transform you into the leader you have always looked up to. What kind of leader you end up becoming will depend on you.

Build a winning team

Leadership isn’t about being perfect, it’s about growing, knowing yourself, and helping others do their best. Whether you lead a team now or plan to soon, these seven qualities are key to becoming a successful leader. 

The good news? You don’t have to do it all alone. A workforce specialist can help you identify gaps, strengthen your team, and build a hiring strategy that aligns with your long-term goals.

Ready to become the kind of leader others want to follow?

Partner with Airswift today and take the next step in building a stronger, smarter team - starting with you.