Get All Access for $5/mo

7 Traits of an Effective Leader Are you heading a team, a company or an organisation and facing some conflict externally and internally? Here's all you need to know

By Bhavya Kaushal

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

Leadership is a solitary road. It requires every ounce of your strength to be an effective leader. Hence, it is time to reassess your role as a leader and check if you possess the following qualities required to be an influential leader:

Courage

Courage embodies a lot of things. It is a container of risk-taking, accepting the rainy and stormy days as calmly as the sunny ones, always moving forward come what may etc. Entrepreneurs must remember that taking independent or single-minded decisions is important but having the courage to stand by the consequences of your decisions is even more paramount. Entrepreneurial journeys are solitary but courage always helps them move forward amidst soul-crushing realities.

Persistence

There is nothing new about the trait of persistence. But it takes an awful amount of stubbornness to persist. If something is not happening, targets are not getting achieved, sales are dropping, the clientele is at an all-time low, no effort is resulting in fruition, then entrepreneurs must brainstorm as to what is lacking and how can the void be filled. They must be stubborn to break through a deadlock.

Hard work

All leaders have around the world have talked about there being no substitute for hard work. Shortcuts, finding smart tactics to work are all ways to up your entrepreneurial game but one must never make the mistake of substituting these hacks for hard work.

Failures

Entrepreneurs who repeatedly face failures must consider themselves fortunate. Confused? All great leaders, businessmen, sportsperson have faced failures. Failure is only a word given for setbacks. It a deeply embedded secular word open to multiple connotations. And the connotation of the individual must not clash with the connotation of the world. Therefore face failures with pride and courage. Fall, dust off the dirt and defeat and move on.

Awareness

The leaders must be aware of everything happening in the lower levels of the organisation from top to bottom. Ultimately, the leader is responsible for the smooth day-to-day functioning of the organisation. It is therefore important for the leader to take the onus of the company and keep his or her eyes wide open throughout in order to avoid accidents. Even the smallest of the details must not be left out.

Humble

People will not remember you for your work as much as they will do for your virtues as a human being. Become the kind of person who when steps out of the company is remembered by his subordinates in the times to come. It is very easy to become arrogant with position, ranks and wealth. It is tough to keep your feet on the ground in the face of life when everything is going for you. All the worldly riches and material benefit are transient and so letting them become your identity is not worth it.

Acceptance

There will be times when some people who appear in your environment are absolutely opposite to your liking and whose work ethics are very different from your expectations from them. In such cases, the first step is to accept and embrace them for what they are. Remember, everyone has a right to existence, the right to showcase their talent and hard work in their own unique way. It is absolutely fine to dislike or not like someone. But the way to deal with them is to always look at the positives and identity one aspect in them which you would like to have and imbibe.

Bhavya Kaushal

Former Features Writer

I am a work-in-progress writer and human being. An English graduate from Delhi University, writing is my passion and currently, I was Entrepreneur India's start-up reporter. I love covering start-ups and weaving their stories into unforgettable tales with the power of ink! 
News and Trends

"45% of All Ongoing Hydropower Projects in India are Ours": Patel Engineering

Patel Engineering reported a turnover of INR 4,400 crore in the last fiscal year, with a projected 10 per cent growth for the current year.

Growing a Business

Stop the Errors: Set a Review Process That Works

Mistakes make you look unprofessional and hurt your growth. Fix them today.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

News and Trends

Broadcom Stock Soars on AI Growth Outlook

Broadcom's next-generation AI chips, built with advanced 3-nanometer technology, are set to debut in the spring

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

Should I Stay or Should I Go? 8 Key Points to Navigate the Founder's Dilemma

Here are eight key signs that help founders determine whether to persevere or let go.