5 Signs That Show You Have the Gift of Leadership
I strongly believe that everyone can cultivate their leadership abilities because I’ve seen it happen. In my decades-long career serving in roles such as company president and CEO, I’ve had the invaluable opportunity of mentoring young professionals and watching their leadership skills bloom. However, amid those experiences, I also realized that some individuals have a gift for leadership whereas others don’t.
Now, I think each of us can benefit from striving to become better leaders, but for those who are wondering whether to pursue a profession or job that puts them in a leadership position, it is helpful to know if they have this gift, so they can determine how steep the learning curve will be.
Knowing the following five signs that someone may have the gift of leadership is helpful for individuals seeking to learn more about themselves as well as leaders striving to help their colleagues grow:
1. You Seek Out Criticism
Natural born leaders find ways to better themselves, tending to be more receptive to criticism than defensive. This trait also speaks to curiosity, which is something all innovative leaders either have or habitually hone as it helps them to think of new ideas and improved ways for approaching problems. Employees and even students who come to their superiors to ask for constructive criticism and make an intentional effort to incorporate feedback have one of the key characteristics of good leadership sensibilities. A recipe for failure is being uncoachable or unwilling to listen to constructive advice and to follow through on that advice with change. I have personally seen many people who say that they want to be mentored and coached, but they simply aren’t willing to change, or they think they have it all figured out themselves and are really not willing to listen and consider how they can use that information to improve themselves.
2. You Provide Advice and are Trusted by Others
One of the most important qualities of a leader is being seen as trustworthy by their constituents. If peers or perhaps even superiors frequently come to you for counsel and follow your advice, then you are perceived with authority, which is also crucial for leaders in gaining respect as well as trust. People can tell when you truly care about them and want to help them progress in their own development and career goals, and that builds lasting and trusting relationships.
3. You Maintain a Positive Posture
There are, unfortunately, negative leaders out there. But they tend to be the type that are feared or even hated rather than loved. The leaders who go far are ones who are pleasant to work with and help infuse positive energy into their work environments. If positivity comes easy to you and you know how to remain upbeat even when work is stressful, you may just be a natural leader.
4. You Enjoy Helping Others to Improve
Great leaders understand that they cannot excel without a great team. Those with strong leadership sensibilities embrace opportunities to help their colleagues improve personally and professionally, even if it means sacrificing their own time. If you naturally find joy in helping others better themselves or have a knack for identifying and developing underlying abilities in others, then you are on the right path to being a great leader.
5. You Care About People
Last but most certainly not least, those with the gift of leadership care about others. They care about how their behavior makes others feel; they care when those around them are discouraged or overwhelmed and are eager to show compassion; and they care about their customers and clients. Being an excellent leader requires the ability to not just tolerate people but to genuinely care about them.
While there is more to being a gifted leader than these five points, each of these are present in every respected leader. If you find that you sincerely identify with all of these characteristics, it could be that you have the gift of leadership. But remember, relying on these natural traits is not enough, as we all can and should seek to grow the leader in us day by day.