IndexAbstractThe Composition of Great LeadersSoft Skills Used by Leaders to Inspire ActionLeadership Traits of Great LeadersHaving the Experience to Inspire ActionDifference Between Average and Great LeadersLeadersConclusionReferencesAbstractBehind Significant leaders have various characteristics that aid in their ability to successfully influence others. The purpose of this research was to discover which attributes play a major role in some of history's most prolific leaders and how great leaders inspire action. These qualities and differences have been supported by examples of successful people like Bill Belichick, who is known for using these characteristics in their achievements. Through academic articles, books and web pages, this research was able to connect the common qualities that all famous leaders had in common and what separates average leaders from the best of the best. The characteristics most commonly found in the sources studied were brought together to examine which skills were most important for leaders to become better than average. In summary, it has been found that there is a direct link between certain qualities and the success of leaders who are known to have exemplified them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayKeywords: leadership, quality, successThe Composition of Great LeadersSince the beginning of human history many great leaders have walked this Earth. Each leader carries their own story and uses different traits and styles to convince others to follow them. In studying effective leadership, it is important to examine some of the best influencers in history and what they do differently than others to be more successful. From powerful positions like president of the United States, to leading a group project for a college class, there are many traits and attributes that help some leaders perform better than others. Everyone may come from their own background and have their own preferences in managing others, but there is no doubt that some skills are more important than others when discussing what makes a leader more effective than others. Great leaders show empathy towards others, promote teamwork and collaboration, and operate with a clear vision in mind. They are flexible and can handle different situations effectively. I am able to tell others not only what to do and how to do it, but why they should do it. They are seen as inspirational and motivational figures that their followers trust. Great leaders embrace difficult challenges and are able to remain calm to keep their organization moving in the right direction. While all leaders have different styles and tendencies, there are particular skills, abilities, and attributes that separate average leaders from phenomenal leaders. Soft Skills Leaders Use to Inspire Action Before discussing the various characteristics that make successful leaders, it is important to first discuss the three main types of skills leaders must possess. According to Management: A Practical Introduction, by Angelo Kinicki and Brian Williams (2018), good managers must work on developing three main skills. The first is technical, the ability to do a specific job. The second is conceptual, the ability to think analytically. The third is human, the ability to interact well with people. (p. 23)When considering great leaders, people skills, otherwise known as soft skills, are probably the most important. These skills are not easily mastered as they require practice and experience as we age. When yesexamine the skills present in above-average leaders, soft skills are typically what set them apart. One of the most important traits that successful leaders must have is the ability to show empathy. In a broad definition, empathy is when someone connects with others by building rapport in ways such as showing sympathy. Relationships between people that involve mutual empathetic feelings build trust that is important when working with and relying on others. Some great examples of the connection between empathy and great leaders can be found in Simon Sinek's book, Leaders Eat Last. Sinek (2017), begins his book by giving the example of a US military hero who risked his life to save twenty-two other soldiers. By giving up his own personal interests and putting the needs of others first, the hero showed how the military relies on empathy among its members (p. 3-9). The US military is undoubtedly one of the best militaries in the world because it operates based on this simple characteristic. In an evolving society where people are more likely to look out for their own self-interests, it is important that great leaders learn to establish meaningful relationships to build trust. Bill Belichick, considered the best NFL coach of all time, used empathy to get to where he is today. Winner of the most Super Bowls in NFL history, many wonder what sets the New England Patriots coach apart from others. In a 2017 interview between Belichick and CNBC, we quickly gain insight into what he believes is one of the most important things to consider when managing others. According to Suzy Welch (2017), in her article Bill Belichick Reveals His Five Rules of Exceptional Leadership, Belichick states the following: There are many things that influence what happens on the field that happen off the field. Players have wives and girlfriends. And they have children. And they have personal situations. They have sick parents. Everything works together. The more you and the organization can help take care of personal situations, the smoother the ship will run from a football standpoint. Sometimes it's easy as a leader to become selfish and forget that others have things to do in their personal lives outside of work. Bill Belichick builds strong bonds with his players, knows how to use empathy, and has proven that doing so leads to success in organizations. Another important leadership quality is the ability to successfully motivate others. With this, it is not only important to understand the different types of motivation, but how they coincide with people's needs. One of the most difficult aspects of being an effective leader is the ability to learn to work with everyone's individual needs. No two people are the same, so managers must be flexible and open to working with people in different ways. According to Hersey, Blanchard, and Johnson (2013) in Management of Organizational Behavior: Leading Human Resources, leaders must be able to understand the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and in which situations they function best. Intrinsic motivation is anything that makes us feel good about ourselves such as pride. On the other hand, extrinsic motivation is anything that comes from external factors like money. While extrinsic motivation is great, intrinsic motivation is typically more successful in the long term. A good example of this is the idea of ​​having a well-paying job, but not really enjoying the job itself. Leaders who are able to motivate others by satisfying individual wants, needs, and goals are most likely to effectively manage others. Situational leadership is betterexemplified by none other than New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. In Bill Belichick vs. the NFL: The Case for the NFL's Greatest Coach by Erik Frenz (2016), it is proven time and time again that Belichick is incredibly successful at correctly utilizing situational leadership. With a long career in the NFL, Bill has worked with different teams, different rosters, and even different rules as the game changed. However, despite all the changes that have occurred throughout his career, his ability to win has remained constant. Belichick has a unique ability to adapt to circumstances that come his way, and that's just another reason why he's so great. In a world full of external threats, leaders must be able to think on the fly and adapt to different situations. Leadership Traits of Great Leaders When it comes to successful leadership traits, many people think of the word visionary. From a young age we are taught to set big goals and then smaller goals to help realize the bigger plans we have set for ourselves. Just as we do in our daily lives, setting goals in business is important for success. According to Deep Patel (2017), in his article 11 Powerful Traits of Successful Leaders, “exceptional leaders have the ability to look into the future of their company and set clear, concrete goals that will benefit their organization. They are confident and optimistic and inspire enthusiasm in those around them." Writing down what you and your organization intend to accomplish is one of the first steps to accomplishing great things. That way, you and those you are leading can come together and see what is planned for the future and how everyone can work together to make it happen. Referring to Bill Belichick's previous examples, if he hadn't set a goal for the Patriots to win the Super Bowl every year, his teams may never have worked hard enough to achieve such high prestige. To further demonstrate this idea, we can refer to another book on leadership. According to Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership, by Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal (2017), “Vision is especially important in times of crisis and uncertainty. When people suffer, when they are confused and uncertain, or when they feel desperate and hopeless, they desperately search for meaning and hope” (p. 355). Whether you run one of Wall Street's top firms, the team with the most Super Bowls in NFL history, or even something as small as a Boy Scout troop, you will face challenges and adversity. Leaders who establish and share a vision with those around them simply have a better chance of weathering the storm. Having the Experience to Inspire Action Another important quality that great leaders must have is experience. Just like any other position or skill, it takes practice to become good at leadership. Managing others and an organization is difficult, and many struggle at first. When we think of many successful people, we tend to assume that they were just born with natural talent. If someone told you to take a step back and think about what Bill Gates and the Beatles have in common, you'd probably be perplexed. However, it turns out that each of these figures actually has something to identify with. According to the book Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell (2008), it took famous computer programmers Bill Joy, Bill Gates and some of the best musical artists of all time, the Beatles and Mozart, almost 10,000 hours of practice before reaching the pinnacle of their career that defined their success (p. 35-68). As a leadergrowing, it is important to understand that patience is needed. You must not only be patient with your personal growth, but also that of your organization. Not everything comes quickly, or easily, and great leaders understand this concept. Difference Between Average Leaders and Great Leaders When looking at what else separates average leaders from great leaders, it's important to look at what exactly leaders are expected to do. In daily operations, leaders are expected to tell others what to do and how to get it done. As easy as it may seem, something crucial is left out. The missing piece is the ability to tell others not only what they should do and how they should accomplish it, but also why they should do it. Throughout our lives we have almost all been put in situations where we have wondered why we are doing a specific task that we are being asked to do. The problem with this is that when we don't understand the meaning of something, we are less likely to put in maximum effort and we are less likely to find what we are doing meaningful. In Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek (2011), Sinek discusses what he calls the “golden circle.” In this model it has a circle with three rings. Inside there is the why, in the center the how and in the outer ring the what (p. 37-51). Most organizations can tell their members what they do and how they accomplish it. Stellar ones are able to start with their purpose or why they do what they do. This helps employees find work meaningful and gives them something to strive for. Starting with why it helps leaders become more inspiring and helps provide a vision for the organization. There is no doubt that being in charge of an organization comes with a great responsibility. Almost all leaders will find themselves in difficult situations where they will have to make difficult decisions. Great leaders are able to step up in times of need and make decisions that have the best impact on their organization and its members. In the midst of crisis leaders are able to stay calm and use all the great leadership skills they possess to take control of the situation. According to The Leadership Skills Handbook: 90 Essential Skills You Need to Be a Leader, by Jo Owen (2017), “Crisis and uncertainty are wonderful opportunities to make your mark” (p. 121). Many leaders are afraid of conflict and the consequences that can arise from it. While it should obviously be avoided at all costs, sometimes it is unavoidable. Leaders who step up, take control, and manage the situation effectively are able to leave a positive impact on their organization. It can force members to come together and build strong relationships to solve the problem. Ultimately, it can serve as inspiration and provide motivation for future problems that may arise. Conclusion In conclusion, there are many competencies and skills prevalent in successful leaders. When we look at historically famous influencers throughout history, there are many leadership traits that we find in common. Leaders must not only know how to perform the skills of the job, but also how to successfully manage others. They must be able to communicate effectively, showing empathy to instill trust and create strong bonds. Great leaders must be able to motivate others and be seen as inspirational figures. They must be adaptable to different situations and able to remain calm and focused when faced with difficult dilemmas. Great leaders provide a clear vision for their organization and are able to teach others not only the what and the how, but also the why..