5 Signs That Define What a Leader Should Be

We all have an image in mind when we say "Leader." It could be the people in our industry who pave ways for us to achieve greater heights, they could be the people who are in charge of managing what happens in your group and how you proceed, or it could be someone who innovates and creates new ways for others to achieve their goals. We're all leaders in a way, but there's just something stopping us from reaching our full potential and making an impact in our industry. Let's talk about five signs that define what a leader should be and determine if you're one of them!

Leaders empower people, not bring them down.

One big difference between leaders and people who think they're leaders is the way they handle others. These "fake" leaders are usually pushy with their tactics. They want their way to be followed and are closed off kinds of people.

They don't care for others' opinions and usually find ways to keep their superiority above yours.

A true leader empowers others. They are passionate about what they do and seeing that same passion in others motivates them to bring out that passion in them and guide them to success. It's not all about the money, and because of this mentality, they attract more and more people to them instead.

Leaders can identify what they should improve and do it.

Have you ever met a business coach or an entrepreneur with an "I knew that" mindset? They think that, because they are at the top of their game, they don't make mistakes, they don't make the wrong decisions, and whenever they do, they say "it's all part of the plan" or something similar to that.

A true leader knows when they're wrong. They are honest to a fault, and when mistakes happen, they don't hide it — they improve themselves for them not to make the same mistake twice.

Whether it's a failed business attempt, bankruptcy, a wrong decision with a client, or even something as trivial as missing a project — a real leader knows when he or she is wrong and fixes it.

They continuously improve themselves and find ways to keep up with the new trends.

Instead of feeling powerless, leaders find ways to solve their weaknesses.

This one neatly ties in with the previous sign — leaders don't feel powerless or feel down whenever they hit a slump or don't know what to do. Instead, they see it as an opportunity to solve a new problem that they found in their business.

We think that weakness is a sign that you might fail, but that's further from the truth.

When we see our weaknesses, it gives us ways to see what we should be fixing, and this doesn't just apply to our businesses or our careers; this also applies to our lives.

Let's say you feel that you lack time to spend with your family and loved ones, would you feel depressed and mope around or, like the leader you are, will you step up and find a way to earn more without spending more time working?

Leaders don't fear mistakes. They welcome them.

Like the previous sign, when people make mistakes, they usually complain, start cursing whomever they can, or start blaming others for what happened.

People often do that also because they're scared of the consequences and feel like they won't be able to deal with them.

But don't take it the wrong way — feeling fear or being scared of making mistakes doesn't mean you can't become a leader. It just means you're aware of the consequences, and that's a good thing. The error would be not doing anything about it.

The primary role of being a self-actualized leader is to solve problems.

When I say leaders don't fear mistakes, it doesn't mean they love making them. It just means when something wrong happens in a project or your business or with a client, leaders are ready to solve whatever challenge they may need to face.

This not only makes you a stronger entrepreneur and leader for everyone, but there are times when you meet and make the best clients of your life when these events happen.

Leaders have a firm and unshaken conviction and know their message.

Self-confidence is another potent weapon in a leader's arsenal.

It's not being "cocky" or showing off, but it's you being sure about what you can do for yourself and others. It's to be a hundred percent certain that when you make a goal, you'll reach it. It's 100% confident that when a challenge appears in front of you, as a leader, you know that you'll do everything in your power to overcome the challenge presented to you.

It's a title, you see.

When someone calls you a leader or identified as one, it's your responsibility to lead the way. To show others the right path to do things and help grow the people's passions around you.

It's not all profits and numbers; it's the aspect of belonging and knowing whom you're leading and who your followers are.

Knowing how to show them how to do things and accepting that making mistakes is part of the journey.