Have you ever heard the saying, people do not leave companies, they leave managers? If you think about all of the jobs that you have had, I bet the main reason you left was a bad boss or a boss that was not doing what they could to help you succeed.

I have had some terrible bosses and some good ones. I count myself as lucky for having the bad bosses that I did though, as they taught me about the type of leader that I do not want to be.

I have been in leadership for over a decade. I am proud to say, that I am still in contact with majority of the people that have worked for me. I am even prouder to say that most of them got promoted while working for me or soon after, which is the greatest testament to my leadership and what every leader should strive for. That’s right, you want to lead a team that does so well, that they move up in the company. This shows great leadership, training and commitment to your team. Consider the following quote from John Quincy Adams:

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

-John Quincy Adams

Many people say that leaders are not made, they are born. I am not 100% a believer in this, as I feel like I am the leader I am today from the experiences that I have had, and the want to move up and be a great mentor.

Here are some of the traits that make a great leader:

• A great leader is genuine and truly cares about their team

• A great leader is willing to put in the time to train their team

• A great leader always has an open door

• A great leader allows their team the room to be creative, autonomous and make mistakes(mistakes make the best teachable moments)

• A great leader will do what they can to create opportunities for their team

• A great leader will watch out for burnout and make sure their team has time off

• A great leader sets goals that are a challenge, but achievable

• A great leader makes sure their team always knows where they stand. Annual reviews are not the time to surprise someone with the fact they they are doing poorly or really well

• A great leader gives credit to their team

• A great leader gives feedback

• A great leader provides encouragement

• A great leader addresses concerns when they arise

• A great leader treats their team the way they would want to be treated

• A great leader rolls up their sleeves and helps out when they are needed

• A great leader inspires their team to always strive for the best

Why is it important to be a great leader? Not only will this lead to more success for you, but you will have a team that respects you, works hard for you and stays. If you do not strive to be a good boss and a great leader you will have high turnover, employees that just do the minimum to get by, and an unhappy team that does not respect you.

One of traits listed above is that a great leader creates opportunities for their team. Many times you will hear managers say that they believe one of their subordinates is trying to take their job or might do so well that they take their job. This is a really negative thought that is very counterproductive to being a great leader. If someone who works for you gets promoted, that is because of their hard work, and the great job you have done mentoring them. This also ensures your success. One of the greatest testaments to any leader is that they have a team of high performing individuals who move up the ladder.

If you want a great career as a leader with a happy, lasting, high performing team, make sure you are practicing the traits of a great leader.