The Major Attributes Of Leadership

As a leader, you need to keep everything organized. Advanced planning is necessary to make your team as efficient as possible.​

In the classic book, Think and Grow Rich. Napoleon Hill said, there are two types of people in the world, leaders, and followers.
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Most great leaders began in the capacity of followers. They became great leaders because they were intelligent followers. With few exceptions, people who cannot follow a leader intelligently cannot become efficient leaders.

An intelligent follower has many advantages, among them the opportunity to acquire knowledge from the leader.

​Decide at the outset whether you intend to become a leader in your chosen calling or remain a follower.

​According to Hill, there are important factors of leadership. These are summarized below:

Unwavering Courage

Based upon knowledge of self and one's occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader for very long.

Self-​​Control
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People who cannot control themselves can never control others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one's followers, which the more intelligent will emulate.

A Keen Sense Of Justice

Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his or her followers.

Definiteness Of Decision

People who waver in decision show that they are not sure of themselves. They cannot lead others successfully.

Definiteness Of Plans

The successful leader must plan the work, and work the plan. A leader who moves by guesswork without practical, definite plans is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later it will land on the rocks.

The Habit Of Doing More Than Paid For

One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the leader, to do more than they require of their followers.

​A Pleasing Personality
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No slovenly, careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect leaders who do not score highly on all factors of a pleasing personality.

Sympathy And Understanding

Successful leaders must be in sympathy with their followers. Moreover, they must understand them and their problems.

Mastery Of Detail

Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leader's position.

Willingness To Assume Full Responsibility

Successful leaders must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and shortcomings of their followers. If they try to shift this responsibility, they will not remain leaders. If followers make mistakes and become incompetent, it is the leader who has failed.

​Cooperation

Successful leaders must understand and apply the principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce followers to do the same. Leadership calls for power, and power calls for cooperation.


​People who make these attributes the basis of their leadership will find abundant opportunities to lead in any walk of life.