8 characteristics that define great business leaders

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8 Characteristics That Define Great Business Leaders By David Kiger Courtesy of Tom Simpson at Flickr.com

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Page 1: 8 Characteristics That Define Great Business Leaders

8 Characteristics That Define Great Business Leaders

By David KigerCourtesy of Tom Simpson at Flickr.com

Page 2: 8 Characteristics That Define Great Business Leaders

Regardless the type of business you are handling, being a great leader is always going to help you take your ideas to the next level. Great leaders are sometimes born and often self-made. However, no matter the circumstances where these type A (or sometimes type C-level) individuals are made, there are certain characteristics they all share and are crucial to the development and growth of the businesses they lead.

In this presentation, David Kiger will share some of the most important characteristics that define great business leaders.

1.PersistenceSometimes success is not achieved on the first try. Most people fail to recognize that persistence is key when trying to achieve something. Business leaders know how hard it is to accomplish something. They know that it will take endurance, courage, and passion for taking a project to the next level.

Page 3: 8 Characteristics That Define Great Business Leaders

Good leaders persist. They don’t let others tell them they are not going to make it. They recognize an opportunity in the eyes of failure.

2. Ignore Personal CriticismPromising business leaders usually are pioneers. They follow their gut and instinct. This makes it easy for them to propose ideas that often sound crazy to others. The key in this is to have a thick skin and ignore what others believe when their opinions are not meant to help your business grow.

It is not about giving yourself or your team false expectations. It is about having a dream, knowing that it is a good one and trusting your abilities as a leader to make that dream come true. A great example of this is Walt Disney who after being rejected multiple times because of his lack of imagination, became one of the most successful animators of all time, winning 22 Academy Awards for his films and characters.

Page 4: 8 Characteristics That Define Great Business Leaders

Related: Business leadership: How to be a good leader?

3. A Keen Eye for TalentGood leaders know that they cannot do everything on their own. It takes thousands of ants to build a sustainable nest. This is why most business leaders surround themselves with other leaders who can help them understand other perspectives and give them good advice. Besides, leaders are always in the look of talent in many ways, so they can choose who they want to build a team with and who they believe is going to offer the best skills to its company.

4. Constantly Looking For MoreLike many things in life, achieving success is not a final destination, it is a journey. In this journey, good leaders know that they should always try harder in order to obtain better results. Some of the most prominent companies in human history started from the bottom and they were restless until they grew and became a better version of themselves.

Page 5: 8 Characteristics That Define Great Business Leaders

Great leaders know they should always strive to take their companies to the next level. They are never satisfied and are always thinking about new ways to obtain greater results. Usually, the day is not over when leaders are already thinking about what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, month or year.

5. Taking RisksSometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Business leaders know this universal truth, this is why they don’t fear to take risks. The worst thing that could happen is that you make a mistake and fall, and the solution to this is to stand up and continue walking already knowing how to stay away from falling again.

Leaders are fearless. They live life as it was a constant bet always trying to keep the odds in their favor. But, sometimes they just trust their instinct and decide to break all the rules or create new ones in order to take their team and company to the next level.

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6. Recognizing FailureGood leaders know how to ask for an apology whenever they make a mistake. It is about being aware, humble and giving their team example of how things should be managed. Leaders admit they are humans, this gives them what they need to understand others’ mistakes. Recognizing failure allows leaders to grow and this growth has a direct impact on the way their companies operate and relate to their customers.

7. You Gotta Be ToughThe business world is a tough one and it demands equally tough people. Leaders know that they need to stand up for themselves in a pool of sharks. This is not a piece of cake and often demands fighting back and deal with unexpected challenges. There is no need for you to be heartless, but leaders need for sure to sometimes be brutal and make difficult choices in order to take their company to the next level.

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8. Building up A NetworkLeaders know when to be tough and when to be soft. They know the importance of keeping a network of close friends, advisors, business partners and other influential people. Most leaders are well connected and trust on these connections to make the right decisions.

Courtesy of Denise Krebs at Flickr.com