At all levels of leadership, there is a need to inspire, innovate, and empower teams. Learning how to do so is an important part of the leadership journey, and one that needs to be planned – a great leader rarely just happens. This is why the 360-degree feedback survey is such a valuable tool.

The qualities of a good leader

While there is almost a limitless number of ways that a leader can prove themselves to be exceptional, some of the most common qualities include:

• Having the ability to motivate others

There was a time where it was thought that the single most significant motivator for employees was money. Nowadays, people are much more aware of additional factors that motivates high-performing employees - from work-life balance to career progression. A good manager is able to identify what motivates each individual person under their leadership, and work to ensure that those personal and professional goals are being met.

• Charisma and confidence

Some leaders, who are more introverted in nature, do need to target their forward-facing skills as an opportunity for development. Projecting confidence, having positive body language, and being able to articulate yourself clearly and personably are all core attributes that great leaders share.

• Having an insightful understanding of risk and opportunity

A great leader is excellent at seeing data, trends, and opportunities, and understanding how to capitalise on them without gambling the house. Teams respond well to leaders that are “innovative” and know how to identify trends. Their teams tend to be the dynamic, exciting, and rewarding ones to work for.

• Accountability and responsibility

A great leader understands how accountability and responsibility works, both for themselves and their teams. They will work hard to deliver a “no fault” culture that encourages people to take ownership of their work, and they’ll protect their team, rather than throw them under the bus if something goes wrong.

• Remaining calm and focused

How a leader handles crisis situations is one of the marks that separates a manager, and a leader.  At some point every business and business unit is going to go through rough patches. When that happens, they’ll look to their leaders to take charge and inspire confidence that they’ll navigate the rocky waters. This relies on the leader being able to maintain a disciplined, calm, and positive outlook.

How the 360 degree feedback survey can help develop these qualities

For many people, it’s impossible to be truly objective in looking at their own capabilities and identify opportunities for leadership development. Often, too, a great leader is determined by the way others perceive them. To get an overall understanding (subjective and objective) of a leader’s capabilities and how they are perceived, the 360 degree feedback survey is a valuable tool. It allows a leader to compare what they see in themselves to what others see in them and, through that, they can plan a leadership development strategy that will focus on their key opportunities for improvement.

Above all, a great leader never rests on their laurels, and is always looking towards improvement and development. As organisations look to promote their next generation of leaders and plan for success, using the 360 degree feedback survey to help identify those with that quality – and the ability to develop as leaders – are the organisations that will end up with the most effective and celebrated leadership teams.

For more information on the benefits of MultiRater Surveys’ 360 degree feedback survey, click here.