Natural leaders are all around us, positively impacting our lives and driving us to become better people. It’s these individuals that play an essential societal role in inspiring others, innovating new ideas, and pushing us toward achieving greater things. There are a few characteristics all leaders share, and by recognizing who these people are around us, we can strengthen our own leadership skills and appreciate the value they bring to our everyday lives.
They Inspire Us
John Maxwell, author of Developing the Leader Within You, says, "Leaders become great not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others." These people pull the best out of us and help us realize we're able to do anything we set our minds to. Leaders tell us there's no limit to what we can achieve, and it's this motivation that propels the world forward.
They See the Big Picture
Leaders don't see a situation narrowly because they’re aware mental blinders are self-induced. They take their ego and pride out of every situation so they can see the paths in front of them clearly and without personal bias. This exhibition of emotional intelligence makes them sensitive to everyone's point of view, creating a safe environment for others to feel comfortable expressing themselves and inclined to find solutions.
They’re Great Team Builders
Because they can scale back and see where every piece of the puzzle fits, leaders have an innate ability to highlight the strengths of others. They can create great teams because they see how someone’s strengths can complement another’s weaknesses, and they use that knowledge to develop a valuable synergy among those working together.
They’re Optimistic
Leaders see an opportunity anywhere there’s one to be found. Therefore, leaders are comfortable with failure and understand that shortcomings are simply a chance to learn and try again. They present a positive perspective in every circumstance, helping us all to see the silver lining.
They're Always Learning
Leaders know that education never stops if they hope to continue inspiring positive change. With their goal to help guide their peers, they know that being versed on what they’re speaking to is essential to evolving the world around them. They’re aware that learning isn’t only from textbooks but rather from experiences, and because of that, they regularly engage with others, knowing there's always something new they can learn from someone else.
They Love to Innovate
Always looking to improve, leaders love to brew up new ideas, implement new strategies, and find unique ways to increase efficiency. They see a problem that others may not recognize and strive to create an adequate solution. Some of our greatest public leaders are also innovators, working to come up with the next best thing that will save us time and resources while improving our quality of life. It’s these creative thinkers that plant the seeds for the next generation of ideas that will shape our interactions with the world.
They're Wonderful Communicators
Great communicators understand that listening is more than just hearing. Listening is an active process of thoughtfully intaking what the speaker is saying before responding, giving the listener time to consider the motivation behind what was said and how best to build off of it. Leaders value brainstorming and the back-and-forth energy that surrounds growth. They're not only there to talk; they're there to have a conversation that will hopefully lead to a new destination and open more doors for exploration.
Do you have a leader in your life? Or are you one yourself? If so, let us know what other traits you think leaders share in the comments below. We’re looking for exceptional leaders to join our team, so if you think you may be a good fit for Giving Tree Farms, please send an email to careers@givingtreefarms.org with your cover letter and resume.