Listen to others<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBeing able to listen to others is similar to the trait of accepting criticism, but it includes a lot of other things as well. In addition to listening to valid criticism, listening to others also means hearing and considering their opinions and ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just because you are in a leadership position does not mean that you are always going to know what is best or that your opinion is always going to be the only one that is worth paying attention to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No matter what leadership role you find yourself in, there’s a very good chance that there will be those beneath you that have a wealth of experience and knowledge that you could draw from so long as you are open to listening to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to opening yourself up to the potential of finding new ideas and approaches that you might have otherwise overlooked, being able to listen to others offers another enormous benefit to leaders as well \u2013 it makes the people you are in charge of feeling as if they are valued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one wants to work at a job where they feel like they are just another cog in the machine, valued only for the manual labor they put in. It’s challenging to stay motivated to do your best work at a job such as this, no matter how great the salary or benefits might be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are able to let your employees know that their thoughts, feedback, and opinions are valued, they are sure to enjoy working for you much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make decisions with confidence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn many cases, the best leader is one who can step into a difficult circumstance and make a prompt, confident decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This doesn’t mean that you have to be assured that your decision is the best one in every circumstance, and it certainly doesn’t mean that you should shut out criticism or avoid listening to feedback and advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, making decisions with confidence means that, when the situation calls for it, you should be able to step in and deliver a confident decision that those beneath you will be able to rally around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Action tends to be better than inaction, even when the best step to take is not immediately clear. With that in mind, making decisions quickly and confidently while still keeping a lookout for a better alternative should one arise is one of the essential traits of a strong leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n