Unveiling the Traits of a High-Performing Leader

The specific demands of a high-performing leader vary across industries and organisations. However certain core traits consistently distinguish them. Some of these attributes are innate qualities, but fortunately, most are learned behaviours. From courage and empathy to inspiration and visionary, we delve into a few qualities that set great leaders apart.

There is no single definition of a good high-performing leader. Just as there are different ways to achieve a particular goal, so there are different ways of leadership. Having said that, there are certain qualities, skills, or characteristics that effective leaders share.

Are great leaders born or made? While some studies have shown that leadership traits are linked to genetics, the consensus is that leadership skills can be developed.

So wherever you may be in your career journey today, it is possible for you to start learning and growing the qualities you need to be a better leader. We have listed several common traits below; you may already have some of these, but you may be better at some than others. Start practising and honing these skills now to prepare yourself to be an extraordinary leader.

Ability to influence and motivate

Big goals can only be achieved when a group of people work together. Whether it’s launching a space shuttle or a new product, scaling a mountain, or building a skyscraper, you never do it alone. That’s why it is crucial to pull a team together and rally them around a cause. Great leaders possess the ability to inspire and motivate those around them. Even if they’re a disparate bunch of individuals of different ages, backgrounds, and experiences, an effective leader is able to get them to move and work toward a common goal.

An inspiring leader provides a vision that is compelling, thereby uniting employees in a desire to achieve it. More than that, a good leader influences their people, meaning that they use pull factors – empowerment and collaboration, for example – rather than push factors such as force or coercion. Such leaders and managers build supportive work environments, create a culture of appreciation and recognition, and foster a sense of camaraderie. Within such a system and culture, individuals feel valued and motivated to achieve their best. 

Resilience/endurance

The business landscape (and life itself!) is in constant change and filled with unforeseen challenges. There will be times when you and your organisation seem to sail along and are unstoppable… until the punch comes and you’re left reeling from the impact. Here is where great leaders shine. A high-performing leader demonstrates resilience and adaptability. They remain composed, analyse the issues, and embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation.

Despite the pressure of difficult circumstances and tricky situations, leaders with resilience are able to respond adaptively and navigate transitions. They remain steadfast in their pursuit of organisational goals yet are willing to recalibrate or amend their strategies to get there according to the situation. It can be incredibly difficult to maintain a brave front when the ship is taking on water and the people around you are screaming, but a resilient leader endures and guides her team to do the same. Once you’ve pushed through obstacles or tough times, you learn and grow (as does your team), thus giving yourself confidence and another tool in your arsenal when you face your next challenge.

To learn more about resilience and how you can develop it, read our article here.

Integrity and honesty

It is an unfortunate state of affairs when all of us can name leaders in business and government who are generally considered to be lying, cheating, and unethical individuals. They may be leaders because of the authority they have, but these are not people who are respected or will be remembered kindly in history. Simply put, you cannot be a good leader without strong moral principles. One survey found that 75 percent of employees ranked integrity as the most important attribute of a leader, above others such as competitiveness and strategic mindset.

Leaders with integrity act honestly and maintain high ethical standards. They hold themselves and others accountable for their actions. They earn and maintain the trust of their team, stakeholders, and customers. It is easy to let go of integrity when you’re under high pressure or fearing the outcome of your actions. But this is where courage and consistency come in.

By right, integrity should be a quality of every human being, not just leaders. It’s more urgent for leaders simply because their actions and behaviour will impact a larger circle of people. So walk your talk, keep your promises, be fair, do not play favourites, honour your commitments, tell the truth, and do the right thing.

Visionary

Some believe that being a visionary is something you’re born with: having the imagination to see beyond what’s possible or what others cannot envisage. Yes, it took unusual imagination to put a man on the moon or harness electricity as a power source. But imagination, creativity and goal-setting can be developed. Other qualities that help you be a visionary leader include a growth mindset, keeping your eyes and ears open for trends and information, and being ready to take strategic risks.

Good leaders must have a well-defined vision for their group or organisation. They convey short-term and long-term goals to their teams and instill a shared sense of purpose. Visionary leaders create a unified sense of direction that guides their people, helping to connect an individual’s daily tasks to the overall vision and mission of the organisation. Returning to our ship analogy, a leader without vision is like a captain without a destination in mind. The ship will drift aimlessly or even waste resources and the energy of her crew on pointless tasks that don’t serve a larger goal.

A high-performing leader has empathy and compassion

A high-performing leader realises the need to understand and connect with others. Leaders work with people, after all, and if leaders don’t care about their people, why would people follow them or believe in them?

It’s important to treat people with respect, empathy, and compassion, and it also makes a lot of sense. If you’re nasty, a jerk, or indifferent toward people, they’re not going to stick around or be productive. Individuals who do not feel valued, listened to, or understood will not deliver their best performance and will probably have one foot outside the door. You cannot grow an organisation or achieve big goals with a high turnover rate or miserable employees.

We do hear of exceptions: certain high-profile CEOs who are notoriously difficult or hard on their people. But that’s just what they are – exceptions. Wise leaders understand that people are a hugely important asset and treat them as such.

So cultivate empathy and compassion in yourself and your team members, seek to understand diverse perspectives, appreciate the challenges others go through, and make time to build connections. Genuine care will foster trust and loyalty, creating a more cohesive work environment and enabling individuals to come together to do great things.

The Courage of a high-performing leader

Courage can take many forms. As a high-performing leader, you may not have to run into burning buildings to save a life, but there are many things about the cutthroat, competitive business landscape that will make the average person cower. It takes courage to speak up, to take big risks, to ask for or provide feedback. It takes courage to turn down deals, terminate contracts, call out unethical behaviour, to deal with change. In our complicated world, it can take courage just to do the right thing.

As leaders, we have larger responsibilities and more authority. A lot is resting on our shoulders. Good leaders need courage to stick their necks out. They need courage to be responsible for their mistakes or the consequences of their actions. They won’t chicken out and ask team members to do something they don’t dare to. Leaders need the courage to carry the weight of that stress and responsibility while understanding that their decisions impact many people.  

Be a better leader one trait at a time

These characteristics of effective, high-performing leaders are not simply a checklist of qualities to possess. They represent a commitment to continuous growth, building up others, and a focus on achieving shared goals. While some people may be born with a few of these attributes, we can all cultivate and refine these skills through experience, coaching, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact.  

As qualified coaches and psychologists, we can help you develop the skills you need to be a better leader. Get in touch with us.