Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Leader?
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"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." Warren Bennis

Whether you've worked your way up the corporate ladder, started your own business, or organized a community project, you have demonstrated leadership qualities. A truly great leader understands the many different factors that come into play when leading others, and strives to help people reach desired goals.

Do you have leadership qualities?

Answer yes or no:
1. I ask for advice from group members when things go wrong.
2. I have what it takes to be successful.
3. I set an example for others.
4. I make exceptions to my rules and expectations.
5. I’m optimistic and true to myself.
6. I have the final say over decisions made within my group.
7. I doubt myself and my ability to succeed.
8. I have a vision about what I want to accomplish.
9. I continuously strive to attain better results.
10. I communicate what is needed to others.
11. I continue to grow personally and professionally.

Scoring: One point for each yes to 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9,10, and 11; and no to 4, 6, and 7. Add scores. The higher your score the more leadership qualities you possess.

Great leaders develop teams of motivated people who work toward attaining common goals. To become a better leader, strengthen the following:

Leadership Traits

- Vision: Visionaries are constantly searching for new information. They know that each novel piece of knowledge might yield an insight that may create a breakthrough. Visionaries experiment and try things others overlook or aren’t willing to challenge.

- Authentic: Authentic leaders understand who they are, want to be, and how they want to fit in the world. They're self confident, self-guided and true to their inner core. They share their real self with others; their interactions are honest, meaningful, and purposeful.

- Communicator: A strong leader listens to others and treats them with respect. She clearly states her mission, goals, vision and expectations. She asks questions, gives constructive feedback, considers all options, and models healthy, consistent interpersonal communication.

- Commitment: Commitment involves a sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose. It requires binding and engaging oneself, emotionally or intellectually, to a course of action. Commitment may be displayed by working alongside colleagues and continually updating professional skills.

- Relationships: Effective leaders know that relationships emerge from trust which is strengthened by personal example. They're genuine, approachable, open to suggestions, and trust and value others' opinions. They demonstrate teamwork, honor commitments and hold themselves accountable.

- Intuition: Great leaders trust their "gut." They're creative, adaptable, think on the fly and make key decisions amidst the tsunami of external information. They can see ahead of the curve, generate innovative ideas, and communicate powerful suggestions without studying considerable data. Their expanded vision allows them to design and successfully implement action plans that move in multiple directions simultaneously.

- Wisdom: Wise leaders have practical knowledge and exercise common sense. They have cognitive mastery and a kind of meta-intelligence that knows how to reason as well as exceptional judgment that identifies and resolves challenging problems. In addition, their experience gives leaders a special type of insight that enables them to conceptualize the true nature of reality.

Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life includes additional information on leadership qualities: www.questersdaretochange.com.