Born or Made? Leadership is Defined by Who You Are

Is a great leader born with the necessary talents and skills, or are these talents and skills acquired over time? Are leaders born or made? It goes without saying that great leaders lead by example. It is the exceptional leaders that recognize leadership goes beyond what you do – it is who you are. In truth, there are many ways a leader evolves: natural ability, life experience, mentoring relationships, to name a few. The following qualities and characteristics are the mark of a strong leader.

Strong Communicator. Leaders are required to communicate on a daily basis. They must make sure their communication with their team is concise and clear. Without strong communication, the team will quickly become discouraged, confused and less driven – all inspiration will be lost. Leaders also recognize the importance of communication in maintaining and nurturing a good reputation; they are mindful that it takes years to build a reputation and only moments or a careless comment to ruin it.

Avoid Drama. Everyone has a certain level of drama in their lives. Leaders, however, do not entertain unnecessary drama and emotions. They are very skilled at quickly refocusing on their goals and what is important. In general, they make it a habit to steer clear of drama.

Seekers of Truth. Leaders do not avoid the truth; they embrace it. They prefer to hear or tell a tough truth. They recognize that gathering and examining the facts is the key to making reasonable and resourceful decisions.

Goal-Maker. Great leaders know how to strike a balance between dreams and goals. Dreams cannot be fulfilled without goals and a plan, and goals cannot be set without having dreams. They recognize that dreams can be big, but they must also be reasonable enough to create a plan to achieve those dreams.

Confident. Leaders master their fears and stress. Trying to find business funding, for example, can be one of the most stressful, risky decisions if approached incorrectly. There are so many options (small business loans, merchant loans, cash advance, etc.). Leaders harness that fear and stress, equip themselves with the facts and then make a decision with confidence.

Magnetic Personality. It is impossible to have a leader without devoted followers. Great leaders also have an infectious personality that exudes passion and excitement. Their magnetic personality draws others to them, their encouragement makes people confident and their empathy puts others at ease.

Author Bio: Business Funding expert, Nathan Hale, founded First American Merchant with his eyes set on helping the backbone of our country, small business owners. His passions include writing/producing music, and travel. First American Merchant is America’s Best merchant loans company, serving both traditional and high-risk Businesses.