When looking at some of the most notable figures in the world, it often comes to mind how they could possibly be so confident with who they are. Some people are born leaders, but for those who aren’t, there are plenty of methods that can be used to grow this potential.
While there are a few steps to take to become like a world leader, there are some important core concepts you can use as a guide to get you there. How can you be confident like a world leader? Start by finding your passion, maintain a level of self-regulation, and lead by example. When you have your passion, you are able to believe in yourself. Self-regulation allows you to be likable. Leading by example helps to grow your positive influence. Being yourself is the most important quality you can have as a leader. You can do this by discovering and growing the character values of other leaders.
In this post, we are going to take you through these three important concepts so you can be the best leader possible, all while being yourself at the same time. Let’s first discover the most important qualities that leaders should try to encapsulate from the beginning.
Leadership Qualities
There are a few things that are important for you to have. These aren’t personality traits that you should try to copy from other people. These are all things that are important to inspire and bring out within yourself. We already have the ability to elicit these kinds of things within our life. It’s essential that you look for the way to grow these within yourself so that you can be an inspiring person for others. Not all current world leaders have these skills and traits, but all the great leaders past and present do!
These are the most common qualities that leaders should have:
- Integrity
- Communication skills
- Positivity
- Empathy
- Innovation
- Motivation
- Self-Awareness
The more that you can elicit these types of qualities, the better you will be able to become a leader yourself. The more that you have one, the more that you will have the others as well. These aren’t important just for leaders either. We can all benefit and find our lives to be more fulfilling when we work on encapsulating some of these great leadership qualities. Think of someone that you admire. Do they have these abilities?
Integrity is all about knowing what’s right. Great leaders don’t take the easy way out. Those who have a high level of integrity will enable themselves to build trust within other people. Integrity means setting out to do something and following through with it. Those who have this trait will know what needs to get done, and they aren’t afraid of what it takes to follow through with this. Integrity also means having a set of values and following through with those principles of belief. Practicing to increase your integrity means that you are giving yourself the chance to stay true to your personal character.
It’s important to know how to effectively communicate with others. Leaders know what needs to be said, and they aren’t afraid to speak their truth. They know when to stand up for what they believe in, and they know how to do it in a way that influences others rather than building deeper divides. That doesn’t mean just telling important information either. Leaders have to know how to listen to others as well. They have to take what others say seriously and use that in order to come to a healthier conclusion for everyone involved.
Throughout it all, a positive attitude is crucial. There is a positive and a negative side to everything, but not both outlooks are beneficial in every situation. Leaders are aware of the negative side, but they are going to focus on the positive. They are aware that the truth is important, but they also understand that part of influencing others means helping to elicit positive emotions and reactions that will inspire and actually elicit change. Focusing on only the negative can be toxic and damaging for all parties involved.
Empathy is important in order to know what others need, and what will actually help them through this process. Sympathy means feeling sorry for someone, but empathy means actually feeling that person’s pain and understanding what they went through. Having empathy can help determine what it is that others need to improve their lives in any given situation. It lets others know that you truly care about them as well, making them be more willing to trust what you have to offer.
Innovation is the way that you can come up with new ideas. The greatest leaders are those who know what new things the world needs to be a better place. They have the ability to come up with creative things and new methods of doing something that already exists. When innovation is needed, a leader knows how to do things that work while also exceeding expectations. They aren’t afraid to step outside the boundaries that already exist to get better results in the end.
Motivation will enable you to actually get the things done that you know need to be completed. Not everyone is able to self-motivate, but a leader’s passion helps to drive that desire within themselves. They know how to pull motivation from outside sources when needed, and they can inspire motivation in other individuals too.
Self-awareness is the way that you can accomplish many of these things on your own. Those who are self-aware know who they are, what it is that is important to them, and how they can get the things that they want in their life, all while changing and growing positively throughout the entire process. Let’s look at what it means to really be yourself.
Finding Your Passion
Those who are the most prominent world leaders have in mind what they’d like to gain from this world. They understand what they’re passionate about, and they know how to pull from this desire when needed in order to get the overall results that they desire the most. Many individuals will go throughout their lives hoping that they just fall into something that they’re passionate about. A leader will know exactly who they are in order to let that passion drive them. It sounds so simple, but it certainly isn’t! How can you do this yourself? There are a few things in order to help you discover who you truly are and what your passion is.
Determine the things that you enjoy the most. What is it that brings you the most joy? Even if it is something simple, like a TV show, a sport, or baking cupcakes, this can be a passion! When are you the happiest? In what setting do you generally feel the best about yourself? Are there things that give you confidence doing? It isn’t something material or physical either. Sometimes this passion can be something like helping others, inspiring others, talking to others, or doing something else that involves an interpersonal interaction between you and another individual.
What is it that you are the best at? This isn’t something that we always just enjoy doing either. Maybe you’re really good at playing baseball, but you’d prefer to play basketball more often instead. When you determine what it is that you’re good at, you can uncover a deeper truth beneath this. Are you good at teaching others, but you hate teaching? This might mean that you are an individual who is good at leading in general. Even if you don’t want to teach, you can still use this important skill to increase your abilities in another area. If you can uncover the thing that you are good at and compare it to the thing that you enjoy doing the most, then you can discover something in here that can help you discover your passion. If these are the same thing, then you’re in luck!
What do you see yourself doing? If you enjoy watching TV more than anything else, and you’re really good at remembering TV shows, these are great, but it’s hard to find a passion in there that will help make you a better leader. You then have to ask yourself what it is that you are practically good at, and what you could do with these two areas. When uncovering your true passion, you have to look at these three things:
- What you like to do
- What you’re good at doing
- What you can actually do
For the example that we gave, you would find something practical to do with this. Maybe you could start a blog reviewing TV shows. You could write fun quizzes on the shows for people to share, and maybe you can do list-style pieces such as “Actors who guest-starred in the same show.” There is a lot of room for creativity here. Let’s look at another example.
Maybe you love doing crafts, and all things artistic. You’re good at explaining how to do things to other people. What you can actually do with this is teach a class on crafts or make instructional videos online to show others how to do certain things! You can see when you uncover this truth, it gives you a better chance at determining what your passion is and how this can actually help you find a life that you not only enjoy, but you thrive in.
Look to others to determine what is good from this life. This isn’t about just asking others, “What do you think I’m good at?” Listen in on what they give you compliments about, what do they ask you to do, what do they encourage you to do, and so on. Discover how others perceive you, and you can start to learn more about yourself and your greatest passions.
Remember that your past doesn’t have to define your future. Just because you used to like to do something doesn’t mean that you still have to do it. Just because you gave up on something a while ago doesn’t mean that you have to give up on it forever either! A leader is able to look at themselves in the present and thrive with who they are. When you stay true to yourself in this present moment, that is when you enable yourself to experience the best chance of being yourself and being someone who can positively persuade others.
The fastest way to lose who you are is to be someone else. If you look at what’s just popular to do, what you feel pressured to do, and what you wish you could do, then you aren’t being yourself. You have to thrive as the individual you are, and others will see this. If you try too hard to be someone else, you will get lost in the flood of other followers as well. One thing that leaders have in common is that they are one of a kind!
Be nonjudgmental and remember to remain in control of your emotions. Stand up for what you believe in. Be willing to show change and growth. Step outside the box that has defined you until this point. We are going to cover more important self-control tips in the next section so that you can truly be the person that you were meant to be.
Maintaining Self-Control
Remember to separate your emotion from your reaction. One thing that will get in your way of becoming a positively influential person is your emotional state. If you aren’t managing the things that you’re feeling, then it can be challenging to actually know what you want, or what the best outcome of the situation can be.
There are some world leaders that can use cheap ways to make it to the top. Remember that the faster you climb, the faster you fall. Don’t try to influence others inauthentically or use tricks to try and become influential. The way to maintain this level of power throughout time is to make it something substantial, something real.
The leaders that have a positive long-term effect are those who can maintain their emotional balance. They know how to evaluate the feelings that they have, and make sure that they keep these in balance so as not to have a negative side effect on their overall life.
A helpful way to make sure that you are self-aware and have a level of self-control is to manage your emotional intelligence. This is the best method for self-regulation. Emotional intelligence is your ability to reflect on your own emotions, know what they mean, understand where they came from, and learn how to regulate these yourself. Empathy, social skills, and the ability to self-motivate are also important aspects of having a high level of emotional intelligence.
Remove yourself from that which does not bring you value and those who you influence. Forget the superficial, remove yourself from gossip and drama, and remember that what matters most at the end of every day is that you are staying true to yourself and who you really are.
Consider other’s needs, not just the things that will fulfill your own. Look out for other people and what it is that is going to help provide them with what they need to fulfill their basic desires and requirements. It isn’t always easy to know, but as you get to know yourself, you start to understand others and what their drives and motivations are.
What does good for everyone, not just those on individual levels? Ask yourself how your passion can be something that aids in other’s lives. How can getting what you want help others to get what they want?
Don’t let fear drive you. Fear can make us act irrationally and sometimes take the easy way out to avoid any negative challenges. Find bravery within that which gives you anxiety. Don’t be afraid to do something different, even if it means taking a risk in the end. The greatest leaders are also some of the biggest risk-takers.
Look for the truth of the situation. Whether it is a challenging emotion that you have or a truth that everyone is choosing to believe. There is something greater within these circumstances. Sometimes doing what is right isn’t what is popular, but a leader knows how to distinguish between these two things and choose the thing that is fair in the end.
Leading By Example
In order to encourage others to do a certain thing, you have to be willing to do this yourself. You can’t tell others what to do all the time, but not uphold these certain elements yourself. You have to show what you want others to elicit through your own behavior. Not only do others learn by mirroring your actions, but they will also only believe things to be important if you show how imperative they are within yourself.
Have a healthy relationship with others. Make sure that you are an empathetic and understanding person. You don’t want to be someone that doesn’t forgive and move on or the person that cuts people out easily. A leader knows how to maintain a certain level of cooperation and compromise within their relationships.
Don’t instill fear, seek respect from others. Fear will only help you get what you want on a certain level. In order to get real substantial respect from others, they have to feel connected to you, not as though they need to be scared of who you are.
Never ask others to do something that you wouldn’t be willing to do yourself. This is the quickest way to kill your integrity. You might not be as good at this task as others, but you have to be willing to do the same in return for the other person.
Practice better listening skills. Sometimes we plan what we’re going to say next rather than actually listening to the other person talk. Not every conversation is a competition, and a leader knows how to positively discuss even the most challenging topics peacefully and maturely with other people.
Learn how to say “no,” or “yes,” when it’s appropriate. Say “no” when someone asks you to do something that makes you uncomfortable. Say “yes” even if it might be something that scares you.
Sometimes it’s about following your gut. When you build confidence within yourself, it will be easier to say what’s on your mind and speak up for your truth when you need to. Having a strong intuition means that you are working on building your confidence and discovering a greater truth for yourself and the people who look up to you. The stronger your gut, the louder the truth will be when you are confronted with an important decision.
Be honest and truthful in all that you do. Own up when you might have been wrong. Don’t place blame on others. Accept responsibility and always show that you are willing to change. The best leaders in the world are those who aren’t afraid to show that they are human!
Related Questions
How can I be a more influential person?
Wanting to show influence is very common. The most powerful leaders in the world are those that know how to effectively induce influence in those that follow them. To be a more influential person, you should focus on using positivity in the things you want to influence others about. Find a benefit for the both of you in order to help them be more likely to be persuaded. The most powerful influencers want what’s best for everyone, not just themselves.
What can I do to boost my confidence?
One thing that leaders have in common is that they maintain a certain level of confidence. The biggest confidence killer that we experience is our own brain. It is the negative and unhealthy thoughts we have about ourselves which can get in the way of us achieving greatness. Challenge the bad thoughts that you have about yourself. Use positive affirmations to remind yourself that the negative perspective you have on yourself isn’t the truth. When you think something that kills your self-esteem, combat it with a positive truth, even when it’s hard to push through the negativity.