What Makes a Great Leader Great?

What are the characteristics that make the difference between the great leaders and moderate to low effective leaders – even when you control for years of experience, education, etc.? It is EQ and insight. The biggest reason for this: leading under pressure is far harder than leading in a successful environment. When things are stressful, the high EQ leader knows how to self regulate and uses tools to control impulses in a moment, which allows them to avoid quick, bad decisions. They can recognize when they need to stop and pause, and when they have to act quickly.

It doesn’t mean that these people always know the answers. They know, rather, when to take a moment and question themselves, and ask if they are acting in their own best interest, in the best interest of the company, or from a more emotional place. From that awareness, they either just pause/reflect/strategize, or they reach out to people they trust and know to consult. The best leaders know when to ask for help, they aren’t afraid to ask for it (or they push through that fear and do it anyway). and they have trusted advisors ready to ask.