Vital Traits Required in a Leader

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Here at the-Coaching Blog-run by Gerard O’Donovan, our aim is to constantly bring value to those seeking to improve their lives. Therefore we have a policy of publishing articles and materials by guest authors whom we value and appreciate. Today’s guest author is Alina Dicu (Romania).
A leader’s journey begins at the moment of discovering who he or she really is because that moment allows the inner vision to be expressed.
That is why I strongly believe that the number one trait of a leader is VISION.
Vision is something that you see from within yourself. It is not something you create. It is something that arises from the inside. Otherwise, it is not a vision, it is just a goal.
Of course that there are many people who have a vision or a dream. What truly qualifies a person to become a leader is his or her ability to give life to that vision. It is the phronesis that Aristotle was discussing in Nicomachean Etichs, Book 6. Phronesis,  or practical wisdom, refers to “an individual’s capacity to discern what is worth doing together with the ability to get it done.” (Richard Halverson, Representing phronesis: supporting instructional leadership practice in schools, Northwestern University, 2002) As Aristotle put it, practical wisdom  „is not concerned with universal only, but with human affairs.”
Nobody follows a vision! People follow people and your ability to inspire others to work with you toward your vision to transform it into reality can create a real movement. That is why a vision should always come from the heart of its leader and it should be communicated to every person involved in the organisation, including your business partners.
Having a vision shows you and your people where you are going. Although vision determines the direction that people should follow, no vision stays the same in time. It will extend over time into something much bigger than you can imagine. A leader without a vision is not a leader. Without having a clear vision, no organisation can survive.
In his biography, Steve Jobs recalls that he could see what the future of computing was destined to be.
By having a compelling vision, you will be able to gain more clarity on your priorities and upcoming challenges. The moment you lose your vision, you lose your ability to lead.  
What is your vision today? Where do you see yourself and your company in the future? How far do you want to go?
The second most important trait for a leader is INTEGRITY.
Integrity is essential for every leader and it is about being the same on the inside as you are on the outside. In other words, integrity begins within. Integrity is something that you build every day and it should always be based on staying true to yourself and your core values. It is easy to pretend to be a person with integrity, but we all face situations when our integrity is being tested.  
Andrew Carnegie once said: A business is seldom if ever, built up except for lines of the strictest integrity.
A true leader will not allow external factors to decide over his or her integrity, but it will make it a personal issue and always decide accordingly. So, integrity is about who we really are because who we determine what we do.  You cannot separate the way a leader acts from his integrity. The integrity of the leader is the main way of building trust with others which also brings influence. Warren Bennis put it this way: “Integrity is the basis of trust, which is not so much an ingredient of leadership as it is a product.”
Take a few minutes and do this small exercise: How would you rate your integrity on a scale from one to ten? Not only in your business, but in your personal life also.
The third most important trait of a leader is HUMANITY.
If you are going to make a difference in the world, you need to create a business that is based on humanity, not on profits only. That means you should look at your business as helping you and your people become more than you are while serving others to obtain what they want and making profits at the same time.
That is why continuous education through leadership trainings, coaching programs and also some spiritual practices should play an important role in the strategy of every company. Every leader needs a group of people around him not to compete with him, but to complete him. And leading with humanity is what inspire others to achieve their highest potential.
What does it really mean to you to connect with yourself and with others? You can not run a business without running people’s heart first.
About Alina Dicu
Alina Dicu is a business coach having more than 10 years of business experience. As founder of Initiation in the Purpose of Life Program, she helps individuals to find and to extend their vision so they can grow their companies and live better lives.  
As a leadership expert, Alina is leading one-on-one or group coaching programs for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their lives, their companies or their communities. Alina’s distinctive approach has helped many business owners to obtain the results they wanted through personal transformation that drives future success.
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