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Why does leadership feel so heavy sometimes?
I see you.
You’re the kind of leader who truly cares about your team, your business, and your vision.
But deep down, you might be feeling stretched thin, like no matter how hard you try, the results just aren’t reflecting the effort you’re pouring in.
It’s not because you lack skill or drive.
It’s because you’re carrying the weight of leadership without a clear foundation of consistent personal growth.
You’re constantly giving to others but rarely pouring into yourself.
Here’s the truth:
Your leadership cannot outgrow your personal growth.
If your self-leadership skills aren't aligned with the level you want to lead at, you’ll feel stuck, burnt out, or even question your ability to inspire others.
Leadership isn’t just about what you do; it’s about who you become.
So, what’s the solution?
It starts with self-awareness and consistent development of core leadership traits.
What makes up a successful leader?
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” - John F. Kennedy
Years of working with leaders, researching about leadership and working on self-leadership myself has led me to discovering the key traits of successful leaders.
Here are the 15 traits that a leader needs to develop in order to grow and progress to greatness.
Influence. Influential leaders empower others to choose certain actions and beliefs that create energy and enthusiasm in the team.
Vision. Visionary leaders like Steve Jobs communicate their hopes and dreams to their teams to have an overall sense of meaning and purpose.
Trustworthiness. Trustworthy leaders like Abraham Lincoln are reliable because they do what they promise.
Passion. Passionate leaders like Elon Musk have an infectious enthusiasm that creates a culture where team members naturally feel inspired and become more productive.
Integrity. - Honorable leaders like Gandhi have a strong sense of integrity which makes team members trust and respect what they say or do.
Dedication. Dedicated leaders keep their promises and push through challenges to achieve their goals which motivates others to show the same level of commitment.
Empathy. Empathetic leaders are emotionally intelligent people who understand their feelings and can control their own emotions. This helps them create genuine connections with the team.
Ongoing learning. Great leaders are dedicated to continued personal development because they know there is always something new they can learn or improve upon.
Respect. Respectful leaders are committed to their work and serving others. They acknowledge the qualities, abilities, achievements, rights, wishes, and feelings of others.
Servant leadership. Servant leaders like Martin Luther King create loyal teams. They encourage and motivate others to perform their best work and achieve their personal goals as well.
Resilience. Resilient leaders have the ability to keep going despite the many challenges and obstacles in achieving their vision and goals.
Flexibility. Flexible leaders thrive in frequently changing environments. They have the ability to welcome and adopt change and motivate their team members to do the same.
Authenticity. Authentic leaders are aligned with their core values and the values of their organisations on a daily basis. This makes their team members more comfortable contributing new and innovative ideas.
Vulnerability. Vulnerable leaders like Brene Brown empathise with their team, admit when they make mistakes and are open to feedback from others.
Responsibility. Responsible leaders carefully identify and address issues. They take charge and do not shirk the hard decisions.
The 3 key questions to embodying the traits of successful leaders
If you want to step into your full potential as a successful leader, it starts with self-reflection.
Start by asking yourself these questions:
Which leadership characteristics do you demonstrate well?
Which characteristics are a stretch for you?
What are the top 3 characteristics you plan to grow amazingly in the next 3 months?
By reflecting on your strengths, identifying areas for improvement, and committing to focused development, you’ll not only elevate your leadership skills but also empower your team and organisation to become stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to thrive.
So, what’s your next leadership growth move?
To becoming a successful leader,
Kath
P.S. Whenever you’re ready, I can help you develop high-performing and supportive teams, find fulfillment in leadership, and create a healthy work-life balance through executive coaching.
To get started, you can book a FREE 30-minute Leadership Success Discovery Session with me.
Every month, I open up my calendar for a handful of leaders to have a 1:1 session with me.
On our call, we dive into actionable strategies to uncover your mindset and leadership gaps and identify your growth opportunities in the next 90 days.
There’s only a limited number of spots, so go check if there are available spaces left 👇
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