The Two Greatest Leadership Traits

One of my favorite topics to write about and study is leadership. I am interested in this subject for many reasons, and one of them is because I am awed by the impact and remarkable accomplishments of history’s truly great leaders. Leaders such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln who sacrificed so much even in the face of severe pressure, unimaginable odds, and harsh scrutiny to change the history of the world. I’m inspired by such great leadership. I often wonder what made these leaders so successful and influential. And how can I, as well as others, measure up and at least capture some of the leadership abilities these great leaders possessed to truly influence others for good?! True leadership that is able to change and define the world is rare.

In studying history’s great leaders, I’ve found two qualities I believe each possesses: being selfless and being visionary. These two qualities alone seem to separate the most influential leaders—those that are able to have a sustaining and expansive impact on others—from good leaders whose influences are real, but perhaps not as extensive. Indeed, I believe many good leaders lack to some degree these two enabling qualities that keep them from being great.

Being a great leader requires a great degree of self-sacrifice and humility. Great leaders are not ego driven or self-serving. In fact, great leaders make extraordinary personal sacrifices for others with very little hope of return. Yet, they do it because of the selflessness of their nature and for what they believe to be the greater good. Great leaders are not motivated by self-interest such as fame, power, or money—but instead are committed to a cause. This selflessness mentality often results in severe lolls of lonelines, and depression; yet great leaders are able to overcome. Because of their nature and commitment, great leaders are truly motivated by self-sacrifice and service to others.

Besides being selfless, a great leader also needs to be visionary. For a leader to be successful, they have to have a clear vision of what can be accomplished and what the end results can potentially be. Often the vision of great leaders is beyond the imagination of others who can’t quite believe in what the leader hopes for and understands. Because of this vision, great leaders do not give in to cynicism or scrutiny, but rather they know what is truly possible despite the many critics and skeptics. Being truly visionary and seeing what others cannot comprehend and then working towards that vision separates great leaders from their peers. Having the ability to be visionary allows great leaders to define the world.

Unfortunately, many good leaders who aspire to be great fail, because they lack these two essential qualities. And regrettably, most people simply do not possess the ability to be as visionary and selfless as needed to truly influence the world, which explains why great leadership is so rare. I do believe however, that each of us has the ability and potential to develop the skills of being selfless and being visionary. Though we may never have quite the impact of George Washington on the history of man, we still can develop these qualities to the best of our abilities and have a profound influence for good! Trying to be the best leaders we can be, despite our many weakness and inabilities, will bless our lives and the lives of others.