There are tens of thousands of books on the subject of Leadership. There are millions of opinions, articles, and research studies on what makes an effective, successful, great leader.

The advice can often seem contradictory, and the list of required leadership traits is overwhelming. What unicorn fits that profile?

Rather than trying to boil the leadership ocean, I’ve distilled my 30+ years of experience working with leaders and becoming a leader into 10 top traits. These are traits that I’ve admired in some of the greatest leaders I’ve known across a wide variety of environments and industries (e.g., Tech, small business, military, academic, etc.).

They are also traits that I’ve strived to develop in myself while attempting to eliminate habits that I feel made me a less effective leader.

The 10 top traits:

1. Visionary

2. Smart

3. Inquisitive

4. Confident

5. Charismatic

6. Decisive

7. Empathetic

8. Respectful

9. Supportive

10. Eloquent