I recently wrote an article titled “The 5 Signs of a Leader.”   Today I want to talk about 7 more signs of a great leader.

A great leader is not someone who is in great authority; a great leader is someone who leads with greatness.

So today let’s talk about leading with greatness.

7 More Signs of a Great Leader:

1. Great Leaders Elicit Greatness

 

“The task of leadership is not to put greatness into people, but to elicit it, for the greatness is there already.”

~John Buchan

 

Everyone has greatness already inside of them.  A leader’s job is to recognize that greatness and to help them recognize their own greatness.

The trials and tribulations of life can stifle people’s beliefs in themselves, in their abilities, and in their capabilities, but a great leader will remind his followers of their individual greatness.

Bill Gates said, “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”

 

2. Great Leaders Depend on Others

“If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants.”

~Isaac Newton

 

Leaders depend on the wisdom of leaders who have gone before them.  Whose wisdom are you depending on?  Who’s mentoring you?  There’s no use in recreating the wheel, learn to depend on the wisdom, experience, and knowledge of great leaders who have gone before you.

 

3. Great Leaders Are Flexible

“I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times.”

~Everett Dirksen

 

Great leaders are flexible.  They understand that the world is changing and that they must be flexible in order to remain relevant.  Eric Hoffer once said, “In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”

4. Great Leaders are Learners

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.”

~John F. Kennedy

 

Great leaders are learners.  I like to say that leaders are readers.  Learn to cultivate the joy of reading.  People who don’t read must depend on those who do.  Great leaders are usually great readers.

What are you reading?

5. Great Leaders Leave a Legacy

“The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men, the conviction and the will to carry on.”

~Walter Lippman

 

What will be remembered of your life? Great leaders leave a legacy, and they keep on living long after they’re mortal life.

Great leaders leave a legacy because they spend their days developing others who then go on to share that legacy and that wisdom with others.

Are you developing others, will you leave a legacy?

6. Great Leaders Inspire Greatness

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

~John Quincy Adams

Leaders inspire people to do more than they think they can, for longer than they think they can.  Leaders inspire people to be greater than they would have otherwise been.

Leaders bring energy when they interact with others.  Some peoples’ very presence is draining, but leaders ignite a spark, and they motivate those around them to be great.

7. Great Leaders are Innovators

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

~Steve Jobs

Leaders discover new ways of doing things.  Leaders go beyond the borders set for them and they discover the undiscovered.

Are you going beyond the borders set for you?

In Closing

The world will always need great leaders, you have the potential to be a great leader; will you fulfill that potential.  I believe you will.

Thank you for reading and be sure to sure to pass this article along.