23 Qualities of Exceptional Leaders

People often ask me for the qualities of an exceptional leader. They may do that within the context of a search for a new nonprofit leader or manager or just as a way to measure their own effectiveness. 

Here is my list, in no particular order, of the qualities and characteristics of exceptional leaders I have collected over the 45 years of my career.

1. They love accountability. In a world of big egos, pride and self-sufficiency, they tell the truth, avoid personal and financial scandals, and have a set of ethics and partners that monitor and drive how they behave. 
2. They work hard at being real and telling the truth. They take off the mask for authenticity, while maintaining a position of leadership and influence. They demonstrate high ethical standards and integrity.
3. They understand and accept that being a leader is often a lonely position. Leading and making tough decisions is often a solitary job.
4. They have a high level of emotional intelligence. Exceptional leaders possess emotional intelligence, which includes self-awareness, empathy and the ability to manage emotions. 
5. They are excellent communicators. They listen actively, express themselves clearly and adapt their communication style to effectively convey messages to individuals and groups. They understand that their words and communication carry a lot of weight. They clearly know that what they do and how they relate are often more important than the rules, regulations and policies they have set up. 
6. They are decisive. They are able to make timely and well-informed decisions. 
7. They easily adapt. They are adaptable and open to change. They are able to navigate through uncertainty, embrace new ideas and adjust strategies as needed. They encourage a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
8. They are resilient. They demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges and setbacks. They remain optimistic, learn from failures and inspire their team to persevere and overcome obstacles.
9. They are visionaries. They develop shared vision, values and goals so that everyone they lead can pull together.
10. They avoid an inward self-oriented focus. They can stay in touch with reality and see critical environment changes, such as demographic changes in workforce and target markets.
11. They foster a positive corporate culture. They know how to design and maintain a happy and healthy professional environment and still stay in control.
12. They avoid bureaucratic paralysis. They understand that a leader dominated by rules, regulations and policies has effectively paralyzed their organization. Therefore, they manage people and create structure and process that is fluid, flexible and healthy. 
13. They enjoy getting results through others versus doing everything themselves. 
14. They skillfully manage the difference between the hard and soft sides of management. One has to do with physical assets, systems and processes — the other with emotions, relationships and attitudes. 
15. They know how to secure compliance while keeping attitudes positive.
16. They know that planning and budgeting is more than a piece of paper. It is a contractual agreement between them and the employee, and they use it properly to get results. 
17. They know how to use technology. They also effectively manage the line between people and technology.
18. They organize work by function first, then authority. This is a logical but oftentimes counterintuitive way to put donors and customers first in the organization.
19. They know how to manage the natural conflict between a revenue orientation and a cost containment orientation.
20. They analyze first, then plan. They understand the role of objective analysis in strategic thinking and planning.
21. They think internationally and multiculturally. No matter what business they are in, it’s no longer just a U.S. or Canadian thing. It’s about other cultures and people groups, even in their own country.
22. They know when their time is up and can transition out gracefully and professionally. 
23. They have a proper balance of life at work and at home. 

These key traits are all important qualities in a leader. There may be points I left out, and I would be happy to hear what you’d add to this list. 

But I will close by saying that the value of a leader in a nonprofit is huge. Who that person is and how they perform will either make or break your organization. 

The preceding post was provided by an individual unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of NonProfit PRO.