Leading advice top 10 leadership traits.

• Author: Little, Candace M.
• Position: OUR EXECUTIVE LINEUP

Do you know what makes a good leader? Can you name the most important trait that a leader can have? Do you think you're a good leader? We went behind the scenes with six Utah executives who share what they consider to be the top 10 leadership traits successful leaders need today.

As different companies and industries require different leadership skills, each executive brings a unique perspective to the list. But despite the differences, each executive in the lineup agrees that an effective leader must possess traits like integrity, determination and courage. These traits, along with a few more, make up our top 10 leadership list.

10 A LEADER USES PERSPECTIVE TO ADAPT.

"As a leader, you need to help all maintain clarity of purpose and a sense of calm when storms brew. Also, you have to 'lighten up' on yourself sometimes as you'll never get 'there.' You'll always have customers or employees that aren't as happy as you'd like. Just keep in mind that you have 95 times more that are happy."-Cushing

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

"A leader needs to be able to see and take opportunities for improvement individually and organizationally, and survive and recover from mistakes."-Bartholomew

9 A LEADER SURROUNDS HIMSELF OR HERSELF WITH GREAT PEOPLE.

"I noted once in a management meeting of over 100 people that a third of the people we had on staff, I had personally recruited based on their talent, and had then developed them into successful managers. By developing talent like this, we created an atmosphere where individuals knew they would have opportunities for growth and development within the company. As a young manager, I was told that the most important thing I would do is surround myself with good people. That sage advice has proven to be consistently accurate."-Sunderlage

8 A LEADER NEVER STOPS LEARNING.

"Never stop learning, never slop growing and provide the same opportunity for your team. Challenge yourself to stay out of your 'comfort zone' and in your 'learning zone.'"--Cushing

"No matter how long you have been in business, you need to be willing to learn new things. After having spent over 40 years in our industry, I still find myself learning new techniques and ways to improve our business. I consider myself a lifelong learner and continue to attend leadership training and conferences to glean the best new ideas and remind myself of the best old ideas. Life's lessons are not just from successes or failures, but from life's...