In the modern world of business, leadership often counts for as much, if not more, than job-specific skills.

It is not enough anymore to be the best at your profession; now you must also be an effective leader if you want to be successful. That’s why you see so many books, seminars, articles, and the like, all devoted to leadership. An entire industry has sprung up around identifying and developing strong leaders, so unfortunately it can be difficult to sift through everything and find the key lessons that really matter.

This list of the ten qualities needed to be an effective leader is a synthesis of the many expert opinions on this topic. It is not intended to be the “final word” on leadership, but rather a practical collection of tips to help you become a better leader in whatever it is you do.

#1 - Leaders emerge due to behavior, not job titles

Have you ever noticed that the strongest leaders are often not the people with the highest level jobs? This is because effective leadership is based in behavior, not in job title. A leader is someone who motivates, guides, encourages, and serves, no matter what job title he or she holds. If you want to become a more effective leader, you have to master these critical behaviors.

Look around and notice the people who are perceived as strong leaders in your environment.

What behaviors do you observe? How do they interact with others in such an effective way?

Talk with the leaders you identify and ask them for their insights, looking to them as a mentor for your own leadership development.

#2 - Leaders focus on service to others

Good leaders focus on serving the needs of others, particularly the people on their team.

They identify and meet the needs of their team members, because they know that when each member of the team has what he or she needs to succeed, success is much more likely to occur.

They may stay late at the office one day if it allows a team member to leave early to attend a child’s soccer game, or they order pizza for lunch when the team is under pressure to complete a project. 

The definition of “needs”, though, is much broader than you might think.

For instance, one person may need regular contact with the leader to check progress and gather feedback, while a different person might do best when allowed to work independently.

Or, some people do their best work when there is a social aspect to the workplace, so a good leader might organize a monthly potluck lunch to create opportunities for socializing. A good leader knows how to identify and fulfill needs, even if they are unusual or different.

#3 - Leaders are accountable

You will never hear an effective leader blaming anyone or anything when something goes wrong. Good leaders know that blame and excuses are counterproductive, and they only serve to damage credibility and trust within a team.

Instead, effective leaders are accountable for events and results. They stand up and take responsibility for problems and issues, and then set about correcting them. The best leaders know that when they are accountable their whole team benefits from increased trust and respect.

#4 - Leaders go beyond what is required

Do you know anyone who regularly goes beyond the minimum requirements of whatever it is they are doing? This person is the one who remembers a team member’s birthday, offers to pitch in and help when a deadline looms, or makes the extra effort to access expertise or resources that might help resolve an issue.

Going beyond what is required is more than just doing nice things for others. It is all about looking for opportunities to foster the development of others, whether it means spending extra time with a poorly performing employee or counseling an employee who is not fully supporting other team members.

#5 - Leaders build trust

A good leader builds trust, both with others and among others. Confidential conversations stay confidential and teamwork is fostered throughout all activities. When a good leader makes a promise or agrees to consider something, he or she follows through – every time, on time. Even if the ultimate answer is “no”, the fact that the leader can be counted on to fulfill commitments fosters strong trust.

The way trust is developed is also a good indicator of a good leader. Intense seminars or retreats labeled as “team building” may be used, but more often, it is the many small things each day that build trust. It is easy to talk about trust in a two day workshop, but it is hard to follow through and live that way every single day. Those who do are among the most effective leaders you will find.

#6 - Leaders are creative

Process, procedure, and rules are important in any organization, but an effective leader knows that creativity is just as important. Sometimes the best way to accomplish a goal is to “do something different” and leaders know when to encourage and foster that kind of creativity.

Good leaders are also creative in terms of how they lead their team. Staff meetings, performance reviews, professional development, and the like are all part of the equation, but so is stepping outside of the usual to find a creative way to get the same (or better) results. Creativity means finding ways to get things done, even in the face of obstacles or doubt.

#7 - Leaders have integrity

In a large Midwestern state, there is a county sheriff who epitomizes the concept of integrity in a leader.

He was driving along the road one day when he drove past a school bus that was pulled over with its lights flashing. It was inadvertent on his part; he just wasn’t paying attention. The easiest thing to do would have been to continue driving and not bring it up to anyone.

But that’s not what the sheriff did. He knew he had committed a serious traffic violation, so when he wrote himself a ticket. The fine was over $200 and he lost several “safe driver” points off his insurance, but he cared enough about integrity to enforce the appropriate consequences on himself and communicate what he had done to the rest of his staff so they could learn from his mistake.

That’s integrity, and that’s effective leadership.

#8 - Leaders have fun

Life is too short to be boring and drudgery, and effective leaders know it. They are not silly or frivolous, but neither are they stuffy and formal. A good leader can inject an element of fun into nearly anything, making it more tolerable for everyone involved.

For instance, a leader might declare “Tropical Friday”, putting up decorations and encouraging team members to where tropical shirts on that day. Or, to start off a staff meeting the leader might set aside ten minutes to let everyone learn how to juggle.

Regardless of the specific tactic used, effective leaders understand that sometimes laughter is indeed the best medicine for their team.

#9 - Leaders value differences

Effective leaders know that different perspectives and opinion are crucial to the success of a team and/or an organization. They value these differences and allow them to be communicated so that there can be healthy discussion. The most creative solutions to problems often come from combining elements of divergent opinions.

Quite often, the people whose opinions are in the minority are best able to challenge status quo thinking and prevent a team from falling into the trap of group think or self-deception. A good leader knows to take advantage of this reality and use it to foster productive conflict that ultimately leads to the best solutions.

#10 - Leaders are excellent communicators

There is no such thing as an effective leader who is an ineffective communicator. Those two characteristics simply cannot coexist with each other because one of the primary requirements to be a good leader is strong communication skills. Written, verbal, and non verbal communications are all critical to a leader’s ability to motivate and guide a team.

However, a good communicator is not necessarily a good leader. You can probably think of at least one person you have encountered in your life who could talk circles around others but could not lead at all. To be an effective leader requires strong communication skills and the ability to inspire, encourage, and facilitate others to accomplish their goals.