Most successful leaders nowadays reach us not only on the level of their success, skills and accomplishments, but also on an emotional level. They simply are inspiring human beings. We are touched by them and we want to work for them. If you want to be a successful leader, or if you want your company to produce successful leaders, please read along. Below, Gruppo La Meridiana presents to you top traits of successful leaders and how they make them inspiring humans that they are.

1. Emotional intelligence

Great leaders understand empathy, and have the ability to read people’s – sometimes unconscious, often unstated – needs and desires. This allows them to speak to these needs and, when at all possible, to fulfill them. When people feel they are understood and empathized, they respond and a bond is formed. That’s when great collaborations happen.

2. Continuous learning

Curiosity and an insatiable desire to always do better is the mark of a great leader. They are rarely satisfied with the status quo, and welcome new knowledge and fresh – even if challenging – input. Great leaders constantly invest in themselves.

3. Contextualization

Great leaders respond to each challenge with a fresh eye. They know that what worked in one situation may be useless in another. Before great leaders act, they make sure they understand the specifics of the situation and tailor their actions accordingly.

4. Letting go

Contrary to popular belief, leadership is not about control. Great leaders inspire and then get out of the way. They know that talented people don’t need or want hovering managers. Leadership is about influence, guidance, and support. Top notch leaders look for ways to do their job and then get out of the way so that people can do theirs.

5. Honesty

We live in age of extraordinary transparency, which is a reason to always be true to one’s core – one’s mission will be revealed, one’s motivations will be shown by one’s own behaviors. Successful leaders have a reputation for honesty – that makes it a lot easier to deliver bad news and face tough challenges. It’s essential to inspire people from the heart.

Here are just top 5 of the traits that make a successful leader. If you want to learn more about leadership within your organization, please contact Gruppo La Meridiana. Backed up by the latest research findings, we are here to offer you top solutions and tips for your HR challenges.