Here are 5 qualities every leader should have - "True leadership is defined by the qualities you possess, not by the position you hold."

1. 5 Qualities Every
Leader Should Have
Eugene Chrinian

2. True leadership is defined by the qualities you
possess, not by the position you hold. Whether
you are the CEO of a successful company or
simply an employee who others depend on, you
are still a leader.

3. Leadership isn’t a title, it’s a state of being.

4. In a recent article published on Entrepreneur.com,
David Hassell, CEO and Founder of 14Five,
discusses leadership qualities that you should
cultivate in yourself, as well as look for in others.

5. !
Willingness to learn.

6. Even once you have made it to the top and have
proven yourself, it’s important to continue your
growth. Being a leader does not equate to having
all the answers and you should feel comfortable to
ask questions.

7. Additionally, once you are removed from the
front-line, you are prone to become less familiar
with day-to-day processes. Firsthand knowledge
can potentially become less relatable.

8. “Asking questions on a regular basis allows for
uncovering great employee ideas and insights that
might otherwise go unnoticed”.

9. Intuition.

10. In today’s data-driven world, most people weigh
all the facts before making a decision. While this is
not wrong, sometimes the data doesn’t lead to an
obvious answer and you will need to trust your
intuition.

11. Take everything you know into account before
making your decision but learn to trust your gut.
“Once the decision is made, stand by it so that
others will feel confident about your leadership”.

12. Ability to let go.

13. This is a very important quality to have. Nothing
is more aggravating or frustrating than having
your manager constantly breathing down your
neck. Employees who work under
micromanagement don’t blossom and flourish.

14. Furthermore, managers who aren’t capable of
delegating for fear of not getting the job done,
don’t ultimately get anything done. A leader needs
to be able to let go and trust his team.

15. Not only will this free up your time and allow you
to focus on some higher-level tasks, but “it [also]
sends the message that you trust others to perform
in their own zones of genius”.

16. Adaptability.

17. Picture this: you have created the perfect strategy
and outline for your next project and something
comes along to throw your plan off course. It
happens; it’s as simple as that. A leader needs to be
able to “fearlessly adapt to change and encourage
others to be nimble enough to roll with the
punches.”

18. Encouraging.

19. “As a leader, it is far better to inspire people to
push against their own boundaries than have them
shut down under demands and threats.” Provide
guidance and motivation; be nurturing. It’s
important to not just tell people what to do but to
work together and define achievable goals and
objectives.

20. To read the original article and learn about
additional leadership qualities, head on other
to Entrepreneur.com.