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

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.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Growing a Business

7 AI Tools That Help You Build a One-Person Business — and Make Money While You Sleep

Who needs a team? These seven AI tools let you automate everything, scale like a beast and reclaim your time.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Making a Change

Develop a Lifetime of New Skills for Only $20

Get access to 1,000+ courses in a wide variety of subjects, from beginner to advanced levels, with new courses added every month.

Health & Wellness

Defining Your Values Is the Most Important Decision You Can Make — and One AI Can't Make For You

Fulfillment, not productivity, is the real challenge of the future.

Devices

Boost Productivity With This Adjustable Stand With Port Hub for Just $100

You'll be amazed at how much more comfortable and productive you can be with this attractive, lightweight stand and its eight connected ports.