Passion

• Passion is one of the most important defining leadership qualities. If a leader lacks passion and is uninterested in his goal, he will not be motivated and will not be able to motivate anyone else. Leaders need to radiate intense passion and enthusiasm that can encourage large numbers of people. With passion comes good energy, which is necessary in order to get people revved up to begin working and succeeding.
  
  

Vision

• The most effective leaders are visionaries. A good leader has a clear vision of exactly what she wants to achieve and how she plans to do so. A leader initially visualizes the end goal and then zooms in strategically on all of the smaller steps that are required to attain success.
  
  

Courage

• If you want to be a leader rather than a follower, you need to display authentic bravery and courage. Leaders are risk takers, and are not afraid of failure or in "looking stupid." Leaders know that to facilitate change or to improve a situation, it is necessary to take an unpopular position or action.
  
  

Dedication

• A true leader can never be lazy or careless. Unwavering dedication is crucial for strong leadership. A leader has to be unafraid of doing whatever it takes to complete the task, no matter how long he has to work and how arduous it may seem. Dedication can set a positive example on the rest of the teammates, which is one of the primary responsibilities of a leader. A true leader may put in long hours, showing up to work before everyone else and leaving late.
  
  

Honesty

• Honesty is a crucial element of leadership. If you want people on your side, then you need to inspire trust within them. If they feel like they can trust you, they will be more motivated to want to work hard. Honesty includes direct and open communication with your team members to admitting your mistakes.
  
  

Flexibility

• To thrive as a leader, flexibility is important. A leader understands that making improvements also requires making major changes. A leader objectively reviews what works and what doesn't and makes adjustments as needed.
  
  

Intelligence

• Intelligence is key to being a good leader. A leader learns and embraces new things and absorbs new information by asking questions and observing the actions and behaviors of other successful leaders.