by Natalie M. Wolverson

Created on: October 04, 2009

What qualities define a leader...well whilst everyone may look for different traits in a leader, I look for specific things, and believe that a great leader is a natural leader, who uses their instincts and 'gut feeling'. I believe that good leaders aren't the leaders who are sent on managerial courses or training days - to me, a leader should have traits which come naturally.

These traits and skills may include;

Being able to motivate a person or team

Reaching goals

Working under pressure

Being honest

Having courage

Using their own initiative

There are many traits which can describe a leader, but personally I believe that the most important trait is being able to motivate a team in order to reach certain goals or objectives. To do this the leader must be able to work under pressure and be honest to the people around them.

People often underestimate teamwork - but when you have worked in a busy office where certain people don't want to work together, you really do value the teamwork that you get from others. Co-operation is vital in most businesses and this is why so many companies send staff to team building activities or try to make a leader out of someone who doesn't have the natural traits.

Being a good leader is not just something that you pick up and learn. It is a diverse thing and requires a specific 'breed' of person to handle the pressure whilst still doing a good job in charge. I am not saying that people cannot learn to be leaders, but sometimes specific traits may be needed that don't come naturally - such as being charismatic, taking charge, motivating people and using their own initiative.

I have worked as part of a team for the majority of my working life, and sometimes our team leader just hasn't been able to motivate me - either because they didn't seem motivated themselves, they weren't sure how we were going to meet our objectives or they just weren't very charismatic and honest. People need to realise that being a team leader is not just a job title; it requires a lot of work and a lot of traits which many people may overlook.

A leader must realise that they are not just going to gain respect for their job title - they have to earn it, and that will take time. A team has to be able to trust their leader, rely on them to help when they need it and be motivated by them.

Being a great leader takes time, but you must listen to your team members, value their opinions, ask for input and make them feel valued as part of the team. No one wants to feel replaceable! Ensuring that a team is 'close knit' is vital as the work flow will increase greatly if there is trust and respect between each and every member. The leader should never think or feel that they are any higher or any better than any other member of the team - everyone plays their part and with one piece of a jigsaw missing, you will never be able to complete the picture!

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