How to Become an Inspirational Leader (Infographic) Successful leaders are often whip smart and charismatic, sure. But what they need more than anything else is emotional intelligence.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

To be a good leader, you need to have quick wit. But to be a great leader capable of motivating individuals to work toward a common goal, you need a whole lot more than smarts -- you need emotional intelligence.

Great leaders are able to adeptly maintain relationships, read people's body language, pick up on social cues and recognize people's struggles and hardships, according to the infographic compiled below by Business Management Degrees, a site that offers comparative information on business management programs.

Related: The Secret to Keeping Young, Ambitious Talent? Let Them Go.

In addition to breaking down various categories of emotional intelligence, the infographic also describes half a dozen types of leadership styles, including each style's strength and weakness. For example, "authoritative leaders," or those who rally their employees with their enthusiasm, tend do well at motivating staff to reach a particular goal, but they also tend not to be as good at promoting responsibility.

Have a look at the infographic to see what sort of leader you already are and what sort of leader you aspire to be. If you aren't already the leader you want to be, take some time reflect inward. Developing your own self-awareness and emotional intelligence will undoubtedly give you the tools to more effectively motivate your team.

Click to Enlarge+
How to Become an Inspirational Leader (Infographic)

Related: For This Entrepreneur, Helping Women Around the World Find Their Voice Meant Finding Her Own

Wavy Line
Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Editor's Pick

A Father Decided to Change When He Was in Prison on His Son's Birthday. Now His Nonprofit Helps Formerly Incarcerated Applicants Land 6-Figure Jobs.
Lock
A Teen Turned His Roblox Side Hustle Into a Multimillion-Dollar Company — Now He's Working With Karlie Kloss and Elton John
Lock
3 Mundane Tasks You Should Automate to Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff
Lock
The Next Time Someone Intimidates You, Here's What You Should Do
5 Ways to Manage Your Mental Health and Regulate Your Nervous System for Sustainable Success

Related Topics

Leadership

4 Ways CEOs Can Overcome Decision Fatigue

Here are four tried-and-true methods to combat decision fatigue.

Health & Wellness

8 Mental Health Habits Every Entrepreneur Should Be Practicing

If you want to avoid burnout and live a healthy, yet still productive life, it's important to make your mental health a priority.

Growing a Business

How to Build a Thriving Community That Will Skyrocket Your Business

Build a strong community, and transform your business with these proven strategies.

Business News

'Do You Hate Me?': High School Teacher Shares Wild Emails He Receives From Students

Jordan Baechler teaches high school students in Ontario, Canada.

Business News

Hedge Fund Pays NYC Interns $20,000 a Month on Average, Sent to Lavish Palm Beach Kickoff

Citadel is known for its over-the-top parties and company retreats.