What makes you a good leader? We substantiate 5 characteristics for good leadership

Leiderschapscoach Caroline Lippers
November 30, 2023
3 min

Everyone is different. What makes you a good leader includes the environment you are in, how you are as a person, and what the team you lead is like.

Leadership is not for everyone. After all, fortunately, we are enormously different from each other. The frequently mentioned traits associated with effective human leadership are:

  1. Vision: A good leader has a clear vision and can inspire others to share and pursue that vision. They have a clear picture of the desired future and can motivate others to work towards it.
  2. Communication skills: Leaders must be effective communicators, in both verbal and written forms. Be able to clearly communicate their vision, goals, and expectations to their team members and other stakeholders.
  3. Decisiveness: Being able to make decisions even when faced with uncertainty or risk. They must be able to analyse and evaluate the available information to make informed choices.
  4. Empathy: A good leader understands and values the emotions, needs, and viewpoints of others. They are able to empathize with those around them, show understanding, and act in ways that support and motivate others. And have faith in others.
  5. Integrity: Demonstrate a high level of integrity and ethics. They act honestly, consistently and reliably and stand by their words and actions. They are role models for others.
  6. The good examples are: Be able to collaborate effectively with others. They understand the importance of teamwork and can create an environment where people can work together, take advantage of their strengths, and achieve goals together.
  7. Flexibility and adaptability: Be able to adapt to changes and be flexible in their approach. They are willing to explore new ideas, deal with uncertainty, and adapt their strategies when necessary.


It's important to note that these traits don't necessarily all have to be present in one person. Leadership is complex and can be exercised in different ways, depending on the situation and the needs of the team.

Do you want to grow as a leader? Get started with a coach. A coach helps you to:

  • Setting limits and finding balance
  • Recognizing and using your qualities
  • Increasing your self-knowledge and building resilience
  • Looking at situations from a different perspective
  • Better to communicate