7 Qualities of a Great Leader

As organizations examine how to build their leadership pipeline – from first-time managers to senior executives, many are faced with the challenge of how to successfully develop effective leaders. And failing to do so means dealing with the consequences – rises in employee attrition, reduced employee productivity and effectiveness, and a weak leadership bench.

In a recent survey by Global Leadership Forecast, only 11 percent of organizations reported that they have a “strong” or “very strong” leadership bench – the lowest it’s been in the past 10 years. So, it begs us to ponder the question: what makes a great leader?

It’s a tough question to answer. Leadership is a competency, not a role, so it’s difficult, if not impossible, to isolate a single quality, mind-set, behavior, or attribute that signifies greatness. While great leaders tend to embody many qualities, all working in concert, here are seven attributes that in combination create greatness: