Berger Leadership Blog

Mar 23, 2018

5 ways to identify a true leader

BergerFrom myriad books to online resources, there is no shortage of material attempting to define what makes a leader great. But however many of these resources your comb through, there are five attributes of great leaders that show up over and over again.

In a recent post, Marcel Schwantes, principal and founder of Leadership From the Core, lists these five traits of true leaders. They include leaders who:

- challenge their own assumptions: Great leaders know there are people smarter than them that they can – and should – learn from.
- are radically transparent and show it: Transparency directly connects with a culture of respect and openness.
- are learning machines: These leaders prioritize growing the knowledge of their teams as well.
- build strong relationships: You must value authentic relationships.
- serve others: Serving others means empowering them to achieve their goals.

Schwantes writes that these five traits are the ones that continually rise to surface in leadership literature and best-sellers. These attributes – no matter the leader and what other great skills they have – are a must to adopt and model.

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About the Author

B. Dan Berger, President and CEO, NAFCU

Dan BergerB. Dan Berger first joined NAFCU in 2006 and helped turn the association into the premiere advocate for the credit union industry.

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