Successful leadership attitudes and behaviors
Liberty University
AVIA 245 Aviation Leadership
Professor: Jim Molloy
2022
Introduction
Leadership is the process where someone is able to motivate and inspire others to follow them.
Successful businesses and companies need solid leadership to help them thrive, and successful leaders
are defined by the behaviors they exhibit as they lead. These behaviors determine if followers are
motivated and inspired by their leaders, or merely follow because they have to. Leadership traits are an
integral part of how a leader is perceived and how they operate. Because leadership behavior is so
important, it is widely studied and discussed. There are entire seminars, trainings, and even degree
programs dedicated to teaching leadership.
What is leadership behavior?
Leader behavior is the traits and characteristics that make some effective as a leader. Leaders
utilize their behavior to help them guide, direct, and influence the work of their team. There are many
innate characteristics that enhance leadership behavior, however there are strategies and actions that
leaders can work to develop in order to improve their behavior and be more effective. Organizations
thrive on leaders who use their behavior to share a vision, encourage teams, and ensure everyone is as
effective as possible.
Leadership is extremely important for an organization. Great leaders help improve morale in an
organization. Even during hard times, effective leaders can help their subordinates be confident and
happy in their position. Great leaders also help retain employees. Turnover is expensive in an
organization, and good leadership is key in employees sticking around or jumping ship. As you’ve
probably heard, people don’t quit jobs, they quit managers. So great leaders help the company save
money and increase productivity by keeping retention rates high. Similarly, great leaders can help
nurture future leaders. They mentor and work with team members to help them grow in their role and
be prepared for new roles in the company. This is good for everyone. And lastly, great leaders are
instrumental in helping the company make money. More productive teams lead to more things being
done, higher creativity, and better overall success for the organization. There are many different
leadership styles that a manager or boss can adopt, but overall the most successful leaders will develop
key traits that help them to thrive.
In practice it’s easy to see the benefits of a good leader. Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Queen
Elizabeth, Bill Gates, Arianna Huffington, Condoleezza Rice, and Barack Obama are all examples of great
individuals who impacted the world around them in positive ways. Looking at their leadership behavior
helps us understand the importance of the right traits and actions in a leader.
Great leaders are so important that there are many jobs that are focused on leadership. CEOs,
managers, HR representatives, directors, and more are all jobs that are focused on leadership,
responsibility, and other skills that involve the ability to help other individuals see the vision for a
company. Leaders and managers are needed in absolutely every industry, from healthcare to IT, because
they have a direct impact on the success of teams. While there are many leadership traits, skills, and
abilities that a person can and should have to be successful, there are a few that stand out as
fundamentally important, including:
Be honest.
Research shows that only 20% of people trust business leaders to tell the truth, a shockingly low
number for organizational trust. Now more than ever before, honesty is a crucial responsibility for
success as a leader. A successful leader is honest, and will expect their employees to be honest too. If
employees feel like their leader is honest with them, they are much more likely to be honest in return. A
business leader who exhibits honesty will encourage their employees to trust them, so when they give
them information or ask something of them, they will do the right thing with it. This is an important
element for a great company culture and organizational success. In years past, honesty and integrity
were the mark of organizational success—now as standards slacken being honest in business is more
valuable than ever.
Be confident.
An effective leader will display confidence and lead by example. Confidence is a skill you can
develop, and in turn encourage in your organization. When they walk into difficult projects or tight
deadlines confident that they will be successful, the team will follow their lead. Employees want to feel
that their leader is fearless and ready to take on anything—they want someone who is sure they will be
successful in charge. So confidence is key for exceptional leaders. Particularly when it comes to making
decisions, confidence is important for positive leadership. Good leaders are confident in their choices
and move forward, leading their team right along with them.
Keep communication channels open.
Open communication means there are less misunderstandings and issues on a team. Good
communication skills are key in leadership that is impactful. When leaders have open communication,
the team knows exactly what is expected of them, when things need to be done, and the process. Bad
communication can create problems that go unresolved, missed deadlines, improper strategy, and
more. This often is an indication of poor leadership. Good leadership involves being specific about
requests to ensure that team members know they can talk to their leader about anything.
Communication channels need to go both ways so employees can connect with their leader if there is an
issue and know they’ll be heard.
Address issues.
In any organization, issues are going to arise. This can be professional or personal issues—either
way good leaders need to know how to address these issues. Problems should be dealt with
immediately, not pushed back to a more convenient time. Good leaders know that they need to take
issues seriously, not make employees feel like they should handle it on their own or not bother about it.
They have the ability to make employees feel heard and respected—self-assurance is an important part
of being a real leader. Leadership also involves being open-minded, and utilize positive leadership
behavior to help everyone feel at ease. Leadership that addresses problems quickly, professionally, and
fairly get more respect from their employees.
Make decisions.
Good leaders aren’t afraid to make decisions, especially hard ones. They avoid delaying decisions or
letting their personal views intervene. They look at things carefully, research well, try and see every
angle, and make a decision and then stick to it. This will directly influence employee behavior. When a
leader seems to be swayed after making a decision, it can be an issue. But if a leader isn’t willing to get
feedback before making a decision, that can also be an issue. A good leader finds the balance of making
sure they fully understand the choice, and then sticking to it when they make it. They don’t shy away
from these choices, but rather take them head-on and show their employees that they are confident
and sure.
Provide objective feedback.
Good leaders don’t let personal thoughts or feelings get involved with their team. Their feedback is
objective and professional, helping the team know exactly what to expect and where they can improve.
Good leaders understand that feedback is essential for growth, so they aren’t afraid to help their
employees improve. But their feedback is always based on their work performance and how it impacts
the team. Straightforward, honest, open communication helps team members receive this kind of
feedback well, and be excited about opportunities for growth and development in the workplace.
Reward achievement.
There are many benefits to recognizing and rewarding employee achievement at work. Employees
see that their behavior is appreciated and are more likely to repeat it, others see that they can get
rewarded for good work, it increases productivity and morale, and helps employees see that you care
about their contribution. Rewards can happen through verbal praise, a gift, or even a bonus or raise.
Good leaders understand that positive reinforcement is a great tool for helping employees grow and
continue good actions. They work to set up reward systems that are fair for the organization, and be
sure to keep their eyes open for any opportunity to reward their students. Leadership traits that focus
on helping employees thrive are important to develop, to enhance motivation and create a positive
culture.
It’s obvious that good leadership traits are key for success in any industry and organization.
Leaders need to be prepared for the skills they’ll need in their job with a degree, but they can also learn
important ways to improve their leadership skills so they will be successful in their position.
