Which personality traits do the best trail blazers share? Every organization has its own benchmarks for determining who would make the best head of its teams, but are those qualities really all that different?

Honesty – Honest leaders inspire not just through words but through actions. They’re the kind of leaders who build their teams from the ground up. They understand that effective leadership is built on trust, and that honesty in leadership generates a stronger team dynamic. Honest interactions with employees build the kind of relationships that make success in the workplace attainable for the entire team — not just the boss.

Openness – In the world of personality evaluation, openness is one of the Big Five dimensions of personality that psychologists use to evaluate individuals.  It refers to how open an individual is to new experiences and how imaginative and insightful an individual can be. Good leaders encourage a culture where every team member’s ideas are heard and valued. They’re open and imaginative — and they encourage those traits in their employees.

Decisiveness – Leaders make decisions. Without fail, leaders are regularly called on to make choices that impact both the organization and the people they lead. People want to follow a person who weighs all the options.  In other words, good leaders make important decisions based on what’s best for the organization — and they make them confidently.

Conscientiousness – Conscientiousness is a measure of how organized, thoughtful and forward-thinking an individual is. Good leaders are highly organized, both individually and when it pertains to their teams; they sympathize with their employees and provide thoughtful feedback and support; and they have both short-term and long-term goals for the team that drive the team’s everyday projects.

By: Lerita C. David | Master Teacher I | Pantalan Luma Elementary School Pantalan Luma | Orani, Bataan