What Makes a Great Leader?
What Makes a Great Leader? A Practical Guide to Developing Leadership Skills
Is Leadership Something You're Born With?
Some believe leaders are born. But modern psychology and workplace research suggest otherwise. Leadership is a skill—and like any skill, it can be learned, practiced, and improved.
Whether you’re managing a team, mentoring others, or simply aiming to lead your own life better, developing leadership abilities opens doors to influence, growth, and impact.
What Is Leadership, Really?
Leadership isn’t about having a title or a corner office. It’s about inspiring and guiding others toward a shared goal. True leaders influence through vision, integrity, and empathy—not control.
According to Harvard Business Review, effective leaders are marked by emotional intelligence, decision-making, and the ability to create psychological safety.
Leadership vs. Management: A Key Difference
- Managers focus on processes, structure, and stability.
- Leaders focus on vision, change, and people.
Both are important—but leadership requires stepping beyond routine to shape the future. You don’t need to manage people to be a leader. You just need to lead yourself well first.
Types of Leadership Styles
Over the years, psychologists and business experts have identified several leadership styles. The most common include:
- Autocratic: Leader makes decisions alone. Fast but can stifle creativity.
- Democratic: Team input is valued. Encourages engagement and innovation.
- Laissez-Faire: Minimal supervision. Best when teams are highly skilled and self-motivated.
- Transformational: Focuses on vision and motivation. Inspires lasting change.
- Transactional: Based on structured rewards and consequences. Effective for short-term goals.
Most great leaders blend styles based on the context and people involved.
Essential Leadership Qualities
While styles vary, some qualities are found in nearly all great leaders:
- Vision: Seeing the big picture and communicating it clearly
- Integrity: Acting with honesty and consistency
- Empathy: Understanding people’s feelings and perspectives
- Decisiveness: Making timely and informed decisions
- Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks with strength
Emotional Intelligence: The Secret Sauce
Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence (EQ) framework is vital in leadership:
- Self-awareness: Understanding your emotions
- Self-regulation: Controlling reactions and impulses
- Motivation: Staying driven without external rewards
- Empathy: Recognizing others’ emotions
- Social skills: Building strong, positive relationships
High EQ leaders tend to create inclusive, motivating, and psychologically safe environments.
How to Start Developing Leadership Skills
- Reflect regularly: Journaling or self-check-ins help identify strengths and blind spots.
- Read and learn: Books, podcasts, and mentorship accelerate growth.
- Take initiative: Volunteer to lead projects—even informally.
- Seek feedback: Ask team members or peers how your leadership shows up.
- Practice empathy: Start by listening more and reacting less.
Final Thoughts: Lead From Where You Are
Leadership isn’t reserved for CEOs or managers. It starts with leading yourself—through integrity, clarity, and connection. When you lead from within, others naturally follow.
"The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." – Ralph Nader
