Standard
By: Antony Achayo
Our society is usually quick to identify a bad leader, but do we really know how to identify a good one? What would most people expect from a good leader?
After a well-organized and successful research, I have learned that great leaders consistently possess these essential leadership skills:
- Respect
Treating people with respect on a daily basis is one of the most important things a leader can ever do. It will ease tensions and conflict, create trust and improve effectiveness. Respect is more than the absence of disrespect and it can be shown in many ways. Remember the famous quote, “Respect me, I respect you”
- Integrity
Integrity is essential for the individual and the organization. It is important for top level executives who are managing the organization and making countless significant decisions. Be aware that integrity may actually be a potential blind spot for organizations. Make sure your organization reinforces the importance of integrity to leaders at various levels.
- Courage
Courage is a key skill for good leaders because it will enable them to speak up at work, voice a new idea and provide feedback to a direct report. Rather than avoiding problems or allowing conflicts to fester, courage enables leaders to step up and move things in the right direction.
- Gratitude
Being thankful can make you a better leader. Gratitude can lead to higher self-esteem, reduced depression and anxiety. Few people regularly say, “Thank you” at work. Learn to give thanks and practice more in your leadership area.
- Communication
A good leader should be able to communicate in a variety of ways, from transmitting information to coaching people. Furthermore, he or she must be able to listen to and communicate with a wide range of people across roles and social identities. The quality and effectiveness of communication in an organization directly affect the success of your business strategy. Therefore, it is important to understand that, effective leadership and effective communication are intertwined.
- Self- awareness
Self-awareness is Paramount for leadership since it is a more inwardly focused skill. The better you understand yourself, the more effective you become. Have you ever questioned yourself how other people view you or how you show up at work? Take time to understand yourself.
- Influence
Being able to convince people through logical, emotional or cooperative appeals is a component of being an inspiring, effective leader.
Influence is quite different from manipulation therefore; it needs to be done authentically and transparently. It requires emotional intelligence and trust.
If you don’t feel like these good leadership qualities adequately describe you, don’t panic – there are ways for you to improve on your leadership capabilities. I believe that leadership is a skill that can be developed and leaders can also be molded through experience, continued study and adaptation.
The writer is a student leader at Rongo University.
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER September 19-20, 2026
- Kenya joins US and UK to put citizens on the terrorism frontline
- Kenya’s parliament races to tame the AI frontier
- Kalonzo calls Ruto to order over Uhuru attacks
- Gachagua takes his 2027 campaign to America
About the Author
