by Rhonda Day

Created on: March 11, 2010

Leadership is a term that is often thrown around in business circles and many people consider themselves strong leaders. Unfortunately, everyone who considers himself a leader is not necessarily an effective leader. Good business leadership begins with an individual who has a strong sense of self-confidence and a strong desire to achieve results.

Leaders are people who encourage and inspire others to follow them. They do not have to push, prod, or pull people along. They have the innate ability to find what motivates and drives people to action and they capitalize on these things.

Good business leaders possess several qualities and abilities that drive them towards success. They are high-achievers with a strong desire to succeed. Some of the most valuable leadership traits are listed below.

1. Strong business leaders possess a strong sense of self-confidence which demonstrates their ability to make decisions and accept accountability for outcomes.

2. Effective leaders have the ability to inspire others and spur them to action. Leaders cannot motivate people, but they can uncover the actions required to ignite the flicker within each person that is their internal motivation for taking a particular action. Motivation comes from within each individual and leaders know how to ignite a flame.

3. Strong business leaders share recognition and rewards for accomplishment. They surround themselves with good people and realize that success is derived from the efforts of many different people who contribute to the good of the entire organization. By recognizing appropriate people within the organization, they encourage positive action.

4. One enviable trait of strong business leaders is their ability to communicate a strong sense of urgency for change. Businesses are rapidly evolving and it is critical to keep pace with advanced technology, competition, and other drivers of success. Leaders encourage rapid action in a positive way so that everyone understands what they need to do and why they need to take action.

5. Leaders value the importance of goals and achievements. Without knowing the destination, it is difficult to create a successful plan to get there. The strongest leaders have a vision for the future - they know where they want to go and how they want to get there. They succinctly and concisely communicate a clear vision to their employees and give them a reason to move forward.

6. The most effective leaders see the glass 'half-full'. Their positive approach to potential obstacles, challenges, and issues gives them the ability to creatively problem-solve and identify unique solutions to overcoming them. They have what it takes to rise above any situation and push forward to higher levels of success.

The best business leadership requires leaders who are willing to chart the course, navigate the "white waters" of change and challenges, and lead an organization to great heights of success. Their self-confidence, ability to identify strong people to support their mission, and positive attitude make them extremely valuable to their organizations.

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