Often in our trainings, we'll ask for a list of 10 traits or characteristics of a great leader. Every time, we get the same list. The words may differ slightly but the meanings and traits remain static. Here is a great article by Garret Muston on the 10 qualities of a great leader.
Whether you have worked your way up the 
corporate ladder or have started your own business, the path to leadership isn’t an easy one. There will be good times, stressful times, and terrible times, but a great leader is always able to lead a team to success, regardless of the situation at hand. Simply holding a position in leadership doesn’t make someone a good leader. A truly great leader understands the many different factors that come with leading others and strives to help others reach their goals; they are always developing themselves, and act as a visionary for their organization.
Leadership is one of the hottest topics in the business world, with millions of publications on the subject, from books, to blogs, to articles. I’ve gathered some of the leadership qualities that I believe are possessed by many of our greatest leaders and formed the list below.
Do you have what it takes to be a great leader?
Honesty
The foundation of any relationship, both personal and professional,
is honesty. People want to work for a leader they can trust−a leader that has morals, values, and integrity. They want to work for a company that offers a great product or service they can believe in, and that has an honorable reputation. “Honest Abe,” or Abraham Lincoln, is said to have been one of the greatest Presidents to ever lead our country, and he didn’t achieve his success and earn that nickname by being dishonest. Your workers want to feel good about their jobs−it’s important to establish core values for both the business and yourself as a leader, and to then live and lead by those values as an example to your employees.
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