Career coaching: Are you destined for top boss leadership?

With the continuous evolution of the media industry, we have gained new levels of access to the world’s elite. Global leaders, who once were hidden behind closed doors, are out there for the world to see – inspiring more and more people to become leaders themselves. Whether it’s within politics, business, sports, religion, spirituality, education, humanitarian or environmental aid – the world is full of aspiring leaders.

The question is – do all of them have what it takes?

Most of the world’s best leaders demonstrate a variety of common traits. If you possess the majority of these, there’s a strong possibility leadership is for you.

1) They take risks

The best leaders know that to improve, grow or create change, chances are there will be a significant amount of risk involved. Failure is always a possibility. However, good leaders are good at calculating risk and overcoming their fear of failure – recognizing there is no such thing as failure, only feedback.

2) They’re good decision-makers

If you spend hours looking at a menu and get stressed out trying to choose what to have for lunch, imagine trying to make a decision that will determine the future of an entire organization – and the people in it. If even just the thought of that makes you feel sick, chances are you might struggle in a leadership position.

3) They’re big-picture visionaries

Good leaders are able to create long-term visions and strategies. They see the bigger picture and don’t get stuck in the small details of the here and now. If you prefer to live life day-by-day without any real goals or vision, tackling the problems of the present moment, leadership might not be a natural step for you.

4) They instigate and create positive change

The most famous leaders in the world are often famous because they drove a change that made an impact. They did something differently and produced a great result. If you see yourself creating change, instead of managing it or re-establishing order, then chances are you’re destined for leadership.

5) They’re humble

The world’s best and most highly admired leaders all have one thing in common. They are super humble. They appreciate that all human beings are equal and a fancy title does not make one person better than another. They treat everyone with respect, and are willing to help anywhere they can. Good leaders have the strength to admit when they have made a mistake and are happy to acknowledge when someone has a better idea. They don’t take all the credit, if any, and instead recognize and celebrate the hard work and success of others. If this is you, you will make an awesome leader.

6) They believe in themselves

The core trait of any successful leader is self-belief. They know who they are, what they stand for and that they can achieve anything they put their mind to. They’re confident and self-assured, knowing that no matter the outcome, they will still be stand strong. If you’re lacking self-confidence, then my previous blog post will help.

7) They have high emotional intelligence

Being able to recognize emotions and behaviors in others, as well as yourself, is a key quality of any good leader. Not only is high emotional intelligence key in motivating and influencing others, it is also crucial for successful conflict management and communication. People will be inspired by someone who can manage their emotions – not someone who is all over the place. How do you know if you have high emotional intelligence? My article “How High is Your Emotional Intelligence?” is a good place for you to find out more.

8) They inspire easily

Great leaders know how to inspire others – because they themselves are inspired. They have a dream and they know how to achieve it. They are passionate about what they do and believe in themselves. Their clear vision, passion, drive, hunger and confidence is what inspires others. If you have any doubts in what you are trying to achieve, or are lacking motivation in any way, this will come through in everything you do. People will only follow an inspirational leader – meaning an inspired leader.

9) They empower others

Great leaders empower others to take control of their lives and their careers. They delegate easily and are good at relinquishing control – knowing that this will help others to learn and grow faster, maximizing their potential. If you want to be a leader, but also like to have full control, a life coach can help you learn to be more comfortable with letting go of that tight grip.

If you’d like to know if you’re better suited to leadership or management, take this quick quiz to find out.