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leader can emerge from any educational level and background.

Some people are born to be


leaders, others do not have the skills needed to lead a group of people to the top of a mountain.

Regardless of the task at hand, someone needs to be in control and organize a method that will get
the task done in a timely fashion.

Whether a person is a national leader like the President or the leader of a small business, the
characteristics that make them a great leader are the same.

What are some of these key personality traits that can transform an ordinary person into a
successful leader?

1. Honesty
Always be honest with employees or team members.

Being open and truthful with those underneath the leadership level will help the employees to
know where they stand.

When it comes to honesty, keeping a certain standard will open the door for everyone in the
office to uphold the same values of being open and honest as well.

2. Communication
A true leader must be able to express their vision to others.

What may be perfectly clear in your mind, may not be relayed clearly to other members of the
team. This communication must be clear and concise so that everyone shares the same goals.

The communication of a great leader goes both ways. Listening and understanding others is
imperative to making sure the entire team is on the same page.

One way to make sure that others are comfortable talking and sharing their ideas with the team is
to encourage an open door policy, where each individual is free to discuss matters that may help
the team without the other team members being present.

3. Ability to Delegate
In a team environment, a leader does not have to take on all of the tasks required to complete a
project alone.

It is important that a good leader knows the strengths and the weaknesses of each of the members
of the team. Utilizing these strengths will allow everyone to grow and the team as a whole will
flourish. Team members will feel appreciated when they are trusted to do additional tasks, and
this will bring up the morale of the team as a whole.

Delegating tasks will also free up time to complete managerial tasks that cannot be delegated to
others.

4. Confidence
Confidence is a leadership aspect that can keep your team morale and productivity up.

Being confident of the situation at hand and the way it will be handled can help team members to
solve any problem.
Employees will take cues from the leadership, so anyone in that position must have faith in
themselves to be able to handle any situation. People want a leader who knows every solution, or
at least one who is confident enough to say that they do not. There is nothing wrong with
admitting a lack of knowledge as long as a leader has the confidence they can find the correct
information.

5. Commitment
A great leader will show commitment to their brand or cause.

Lead by example and a good work ethic will be formed amongst every one of the team members.
Always keep promises or commitments made to the team, whether it is a yearly work picnic or
casual Friday. Staying true to these commitments will encourage the team to work harder to fulfill
their obligations as well.

6. Positive Attitude
The energy levels of the workplace start with those who have a leadership role possessing a
positive attitude.

Everyone on the team is a person with emotions that can affect their outlook, but striving to
exhibit a positive attitude can motivate others to do the same. Consider offering snacks or coffee
to the employees to add a bit of cheer to the work environment.

A person who is cheerful and positive is often more likely to put forth their best effort, even if it
requires them to stay an extra hour or two to complete the project at hand.

7. Intuition
As a leader, daily tasks often become something that can be easily achieved as a team, but what
about when new scenarios arise?

Taking a team through uncharted waters can give a leader a feeling of uncertainty, when there is
no map or guidance for discovering the unexplored territory. It is a leader’s responsibility to
guide the members of the team through the unfamiliar situation by drawing on past experience
and relying on intuition to make decisions that will help the team to be successful. Trusting
yourself will help determine what to do when a tough decision needs to be made.

8. Creativity
Decisions that a good leader needs to make are not always simple, cut and dry choices.

Sometimes a situation only has two seemingly bad choices. Having a creative side can often
allow exploration into areas that were not considered, which can transform a bad solution into a
much better option. If creativity is a strong point of certain members of the team, bring them in on
a brainstorming session that can get the entire team thinking outside the box while striving to
reach the finish line.

9. Sense of Humor
Having a sense of humor is important for any workplace.

The entire team will often look to the leader to determine the type of atmosphere that is
acceptable within their first few days, so why not start a working relationship with a new team
member by pulling a lighthearted prank. Show the new employee that the team can have fun
together and still accomplish the goals set before them in a timely fashion.

When problems arise, it is important to laugh them off instead of becoming upset and yelling at
the team. A sense of humor will keep the morale of the team up as well as productivity.

10. Ability to Inspire


Inspiration is something that will encourage any team to work hard on current projects as well as
future goals.

It is important for any leader to inspire their team and praise them for their accomplishments.
When a person feels appreciated, they tend to be inspired to put forth their best effort while
completing the task at hand. One way to inspire others is to offer bonus incentives to those who
do exceptional work. No matter how small the bonus, the added incentive will boost the morale of
the employees as they compete to claim the prize offered to them.

11. Take Responsibility


A great leader is not afraid to take responsibility when failure occurs.

No matter how big or small the problem is, take responsibility for the mistake and figure out how
to fix it. Showing this trait to team members will encourage them to take responsibility for their
actions as well, which will help the team to better trust one another when problems and issues
arise.

12. Ability to Care


A great leader is also a caring leader.

It is important to care about the business and the projects set in front of the team, but it is even
more important to care about the team members themselves. Ask the members of the team about
their family members and what they did over the weekend. Get to know each individual member
of the team and take an interest in their personal growth within the workplace.

13. Fearlessness
A true leader is not afraid to take risks just because mistakes can be made.

Fearlessness is an important trait for a leader, because it will show the members of the team that
taking a risk often pays off. If the risk does not produce an acceptable outcome, own the mistake
and fix the problem.

14. Ability to Manage Failure


Failure will occur in almost any work environment, but the way the failure is handled will
determine how good the leadership is within the environment.

A great leader will remain calm during a stressful situation. Make use of all of the resources
available and logically find a path towards the solution. Revealing that the leadership is worried
can cause chaos and negative morale amongst team members, so remain positive and demonstrate
how to turn a setback into a step forward.

15. Genuine
Upholding personal values are important in a working environment.
Any values that are important at home or in a public venue should also be applied to any
leadership role. Forsaking these values will allow the members of the team to see a less genuine
leader. Have the strength to remain true to yourself, and the other team members will not be
afraid to genuinely express themselves and their values.

16. Supportive
A good leader will offer their support to the members of the team whenever possible.

Take steps to acknowledge the work that the employees do, and make an effort to let them know
their work is appreciated. Offer support for solving problems, whether they are professional or
personal, and the added effort can help boost the morale in the office. A positive working
atmosphere with supportive leaders will allow the employees to flourish and produce their best
work.

17. Collaborative
Being able to collaborate with team member and make everyone feel like an important team
player is a beneficial trait of a great leader.

Ask for input and ideas from the team for an upcoming project, or get feedback relating to a
completed task that may help the team be more productive in the future. Get every team member
involved in the process and recognize them when they have a brilliant idea.

18. Focus
It is important to have a strong focus.

Team members will typically follow the main focus that the leader sets forth. Making sure the
focus is clear and the priorities are set early is a great way to assure that the team knows where to
set their focus. Being unsure of what needs to be accomplished will inevitably slow down the
team and productivity rate.

19. Respect
Treating every team member with respect is an attribute that all great leaders should strive to
accomplish.

Regardless of class, color, or rank within the company, each person deserves to be treated with
respect. This respect begins with management and the leadership within a company or a team.
Respect is a two way street, when it comes to the members of a team. For a leader to gain the
respect of the employees, they must show that they respect each and every person on their team.
There can be no favoritism shown from a good leader.

20. Ability to Celebrate


A lot of work environments can be stressful for the team members.

Projects can require extreme concentration as well as long hours each day over an extended
period of time. This stressful atmosphere can cause the team members to feel burnt out and
exhausted, which will lower team morale. A good leader will lighten the mood by allowing
everyone a bit of relaxation to recharge. When a big project is completed, celebrate the success of
the team. Take the time to provide a catered lunch for the employees or offer to buy them all a
drink after work to thank them for all of their hard work. Give the team a chance to take a
breather and get ready for the next big project.
Conclusion
Everyone can be a leader, but not everyone is a great leader. A true leader is flexible when it
comes to their team, using each individual’s strengths to inspire and motivate the team to
succeed.

The characteristics listed are some of the personality traits that a great leader should be able to
say that they have, but not all of these qualities need to be inherent in every leader.

When an individual who has been delegated to lead exemplifies more than a few of these
characteristics, that person’s true leadership ability will ignite and easily spark to life.

In addition to the leadership aspects listed, what are some other quality attributes that a great
leader should strive to possess? How many of these qualities do you see in yourself?

Positive Thinking
Articles, information, tips and advice on positive thinking

Positive thinking is an optimistic state of mind, which sees the bright side of life. A positive
frame of mind brings more harmony and happiness, improves relationships, and attracts success
into your life.

Articles on Positive Thinking


The Power of Positive Thinking
Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and
expects positive results. A positive person anticipates happiness, health and success...

The Key To Success - Positive Thinking and Action


Did you know that one of the most important keys to success is positive thinking? With this key,
it is easier to achieve success, improve relationships, have better health, and enjoy happiness,
satisfaction and inner peace. ...

The Power of Positive Attitude Can Change Your Life


Positive attitude helps to cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into
your life, and makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. If you adopt it as a way...

How to Stop Negative Thinking


Negative thoughts are like heavy dark clouds hiding the sun and the sky, making the day look
gloomy and threatening. You have the power to scatter the clouds in your mind...

10 Habits of Positive People and Things They Do Differently


Positive people don't wait for life to turn out the way you want, before they can start enjoying it.
They don't worry about problems and obstacles, but set out to find ways to solve them...

Positive Attitude Is a State of Mind You Can Adopt


A person with a positive attitude is willing to experiment, take action and do things. He or she do
not accept things as they are, and expend efforts to follow goals...
How to Be Positive
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unhappy and unsatisfied, or when life is difficult and tough. They even find it hard to be positive
when...

How to Think Positively


Display a more positive emotional and mental attitude toward yourself, other people and
situations. Refuse to participate in negative inner dialogues. It's just a waste of time...

How to Be Optimistic
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Do you expect the best or the worst to happen? Being an
optimist does not mean that you are out of touch with reality ignoring difficulties and obstacles
and behaving...

Being Positive in Good Times and in Bad Times


Though there so much talk about positive thinking, few really understand what it is. Being
positive doesn't mean ignoring what is happening around you and living within some kind of a
"positive bubble"...

How to Create and Experience Positive Feelings


What are positive feelings? These are pleasant feelings of happiness, satisfaction, confidence and
the expectation of success. These are feelings of compassion, love, tolerance and understanding...

How to Create a Positive Atmosphere


Your thoughts and feelings create your attitude, and the sort and frequency of the mental and
emotional vibrations that you transmit from your mind, and which create the atmosphere around
you...

The Power of Negative Thinking and How to Overcome It


Negative thinking appears to be more prevalent than positive thinking. It seems that with most
people, positive thinking requires some effort, whereas, negative thinking comes easily...

Positive Phrases and Sentences to Add to Your Vocabulary


Are you aware of the phrases you often repeat aloud when speaking with people, or silently, in
your mind? These words speak a lot about your mindset, attitude and expectations...

Learn How to Live a Positive Life


Changing your mindset from negative to positive, building new habits, and bringing inspiration
into your life can be quite simple. This of course, requires some work on your part...

Visit our blog for more articles about Positive Attitude and Life.

Affirmations - Words with PowerAffirmations - Words with Power


Learn how to improve your life in every area by repeating affirmations a few times a day.
Affirmations can help you change your habits, find love, attract money and success, and much
more.
Make Affirmations Work for You
emotional maturity
emotional maturity quote buddha
12 Signs of emotional maturity
Emotional maturity refers to your ability to understand, and manage, your emotions. Emotional
maturity enables you to create the life you desire. A life filled with happiness and fulfilment. You
define success in your own terms, not society’s, and you strive to achieve it. Your emotional
maturity is observed through your thoughts and behaviours. When you are faced with a difficult
situation, your level of emotional maturity is one of the biggest factors in determining your ability
to cope.

12 Signs of emotional maturity


Each person has a different level of emotional maturity. It is something which you can
consistently work on and improve over time. You can use the following signs of emotional
maturity to gauge your own level:

1. Flexibility
You are able to see each situation as unique and you can adapt your style accordingly.

2. Responsibility
You take responsibility for your own life. You understand that your current circumstances are a
result of the decisions you have taken up to now. When something goes wrong, you do not rush to
blame others. You identify what you can do differently the next time and develop a plan to
implement these changes.

3. You understand that vision trumps knowledge


You know that you do not need to have all the answers. As long as you can identify the problem,
you can visualise a solution and research the best way to implement that solution.

4. Personal growth
Meeting the challenges of tomorrow requires learning and development today. You have a desire
to learn and a thirst for knowledge. Learning and development activities form a key part of your
schedule.

5. You seek alternative views


Knowing that the way things are done can always be improved, you willingly seek out the
opinions and views of others. You do not feel threatened when people disagree with you. If you
feel that their way is better, you are happy to run with it.

6. Non-judgemental
Variety makes the world a more beautiful place. Even when you disagree with people, you do not
feel the need to criticise them. Instead, you respect their right to their beliefs.

7. Resilience
There will always be things that go wrong. There will always be setbacks and major
disappointments. While you may initially be a little upset, emotional maturity allows you to
express your feelings, identify the actions you can take, and move on.

8. A calm demeanour
It’s hard to be calm 100% of the time but you are able to remain calm the majority of the time.
9. Realistic optimism
You are not deluded. You know that success requires effort and patience. You do, though, have
an optimistic disposition whereby you believe you can cope with whatever life throws at you.
You also believe that there are opportunities out there for you, so you seek them out.

10. Approachability
You are usually easy to get along with and people feel comfortable approaching you. Building
relationships is never contrived; it comes easy to you.

11. Self-belief
You appreciate when others praise or compliment you. It feels good when they approve.
However, you know that there will always be people who disapprove but you are confident in
who you are and what you do. If you believe that a particular course of action is right for you, you
will do it, whether they approve or not.

12. Humour
You don’t take yourself too seriously. You are able to enjoy a good laugh with friends and
colleagues, even when you are the butt of the joke.

One of the greatest obstacles to emotional maturity is a lack of self confidence. If you feel that
you may be lacking in self confidence, check out Unbreakable Self Confidence.

Emotional maturity allows you to take charge of your life. You have your own vision for your life
and your own ambition for success. Focusing on realising your vision, you can create a happy,
healthy life where you respect yourself and others. When you develop emotional maturity, life
becomes a joy rather than a chore. Your happiness and fulfilment are in your hands. Emotional
maturity doesn’t evolve overnight. It takes effort, practice and patience. If you can improve a
little every day, you will soon be living a happier, more fulfilled life.

Environmental Awareness

Environmental awareness is to understand the fragility of our environment and the importance of
its protection. Promoting environmental awareness is an easy way to become an environmental
steward and participate in creating a brighter future for our children.

What is Environmental Awareness?

To define environmental awareness we must first understand the environmentalist movement.


Environmentalism is an ideology that evokes the necessity and responsibility of humans to
respect, protect, and preserve the natural world from its anthropogenic (caused by humans)
afflictions.

Environmental awareness is an integral part of the movement’s success. By teaching our friends
and family that the physical environment is fragile and indispensable we can begin fixing the
problems that threaten it.

Numerous resources are available to promote environmental awareness; group learning (in or
outside of class), informational and inspirational seminars, such as our Awakening the Dreamer
Program, and environmental books and brochures are just a few of the tools that can get you
involved in promoting the environment

Civic sense, or rather the lack of it, is a topic that has been widely discussed and argued in India.
Somehow, most Indians do not care much for civic sense. And this attitude is prevalent across all
sections of society. People today are so driven towards their personal goals that civic sense as an
ethic has become a low priority, almost a nuisance.

But this attitude could be harmful for India in the long run. Civic sense has dropped to an all-
time low in recent years, as is rather obvious from the current state of society. Let's see what
people and specifically parents can do to curb this downswing.

What is Civic Sense?

Civic sense is nothing but social ethics. It is consideration by the people for the unspoken norms
of society. A lot of people assume that civic sense is just about keeping the roads, streets and
public property clean. But civic sense is more than that; it has to do with law-abiding, respect for
fellow men and maintaining decorum in public places. A lot of foreign countries function in a
smooth manner because of the strong civic sense amongst its people.

With the exception of a couple of lessons in school, not a lot of attention is given to civic
behaviour. Schools and homes do not teach their children about the importance of civic sense and
how it could make a difference to the country as well as the quality of their lives. Let's see why
civic sense is so important.

Why is Civic Sense important?

Separatism, vandalism, intolerance, racism, road rage etc. are all examples of lack of civic sense.
People are becoming less and lesstolerant of each other, of other's cultures, backgrounds, and
other similar traits. India has really diverse people and the need of the hour is general civic sense.
It is not uncommon to read or hear about communal friction. Even living in the city has become
difficult because people have no consideration whatsoever for fellow city-dwellers.
When civic sense is absent in a society, it leads to a lot of problems. Disregard for the law is a
primary cause for lacking civic sense. A person who has high civic values does not resort to
shortcuts and unethical tactics to get his work done. And being unethical in daily activities does
not benefit anyone, as the behaviour only gets emulated by other members of society. Ultimately,
the situation will reach a point where hardly anything can be done to restore it.
For example, being inconsiderate towards fellow society members will only come right back at
you. You have to be social, mature and unbiased when it comes to situations in public. The
current state of public transport, for example, is disheartening. And we have no one to blame but
ourselves for this condition.

There are spit marks, urine, vulgar graffiti, random garbage and overflowing sewers at every
nook and corner of India. NO city in this country has managed to fight the menace. It is easy to
pin everything on the government, but people must first question themselves and their own civic
sense. Roads are not dirty because nobody cleaned it, but because somebody dirtied it in the first
place.
And such dirt and grime is not acceptable to anybody; it exists only because everybody does it.
Even swine flu, which is quickly spreading across the country, was caused by the absence of
hygiene. It does not help that people are irresponsible with the disposal of bio-waste. And people
continue to indulge in such behaviour in spite of knowing the harmful effects.

Using 'everybody does it' is an excuse and only an excuse. In India, even prominent personalities
indulge in proud displays of lack of civic sense. Take for example, ministers who delay planes
with complete disregard for other passengers or companies that freely pollute rivers and lakes. It
is difficult for a country to change its mindset when its leaders themselves are setting bad
examples, round the clock, all the time.

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