Employers Ask: What are the key qualities of a good leader?

One of the most important aspects of any successful company is the leadership that makes everything happen. At Top Applicant, we’re happy to be a resource for employers by answering the questions on everyone’s mind. As you take a look around your team, you may have some great talent ready to move to the next level. To recognize the hidden potential in your workforce, our experts are weighing in on an age-old question: What are the qualities of a good leader?

A Clear Vision

The first thing that our experts recognize is the value of a clear vision. From the first interview to the next promotion, a leader should have a clear goal in mind. This can be displayed in their responses to questions, adversities, and responsibilities throughout their role. 

Most of all, an employee worth investing in will make their intentions clear from the beginning of their employment to their day-to-day. Look for consistency and clarity as you consider the qualities of a good leader on your team.

Accountability and Expertise

These are things that every employee respects about the person guiding them. As you work alongside your employees, look for these qualities of a good leader in simple things like correspondence and questions during meetings. Even if an employee doesn’t always make their deadlines, observe how they handle difficult situations and take responsibility.

Expertise is the product of practice and passion to grow one’s knowledge. So when an employee shares their experience from outside your organization, hear them out! You may be surprised by what you can learn from the people you manage every day. Our experts recommend open doors and open ears to retain great employees.

Soft Skills and Hard Facts

Our hot take is that talking is underrated in today’s work environment. One of the most overlooked qualities of a good leader is quality communication. When you talk to your employees, listen to their thought processes. As they improve and add value to your company, build standards to measure their work.

With those standards in place, you can track an employee’s progress and help them build a path to expanding their responsibilities. This is an invaluable process to find and identify the qualities of a good leader in your company and attract new employees.

Giving and Taking Feedback

Top Applicant believes in putting communication first. Hands down, this is the most important quality of a good leader. Accepting feedback and responding to it effectively requires complete control and a high level of intrapersonal skill. When you talk to your employees, ask them about ways that you can improve as a manager—you may be surprised what you can learn!

Giving feedback is just as important as what an employee does with it. So when it comes to reviewing their performance and considering who to trust, we recommend taking a closer look at their responses to constructive feedback. If they provide astute observations and good results after being given feedback, you may be looking at an up-and-coming leader for your company!

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