No matter the industry, one of the most important elements of successful, growing businesses is that they have good leaders. Read stories about top multinationals and thriving startups and you’ll typically see they all have owners, CEOs, department heads, board members, and other managers who are respected for their leadership ability.

Do you wonder what it is, though, that really makes a quality manager who achieves goals year after year? If you’re like many budding entrepreneurs studying an online MBA or other business-related degree, you’re probably having to regularly consider this question as you complete your education and work to position yourself for your dream role.

While there are lots of different strengths successful leaders seem to utilize, there are a few skills and qualities which appear to really set renowned leaders apart from the rest of the pack. Read on for some of the key qualities you need to start cultivating in yourself today.

Communication Skills

One of the number-one skills you need as a leader is being able to communicate effectively.

When you run a business, you not only have to be able to get across your desires, ideas, business goals and more to your team so that everyone is working towards the same things, but also inspire workers, potential investors, partners, journalists, customers, and the like to invest time, money, energy, or passion in your business.

It is important to be able to communicate well in both the way you speak verbally and in the way you write. Using body language effectively is an important part of being a good communicator, too, as is listening.

You need to be able to take on board feedback and the thoughts and opinions of others, in order to be successful; plus ensure your team feels heard and understood. You must also be able to interact well with people of all ages and from all types of backgrounds.

Commitment and Passion

Before you invest in a business, or even when you’re already running one, it is a good idea to check in with yourself to see if you have the necessary commitment and passion to really make a go of the venture.

This is because being an entrepreneur has many ups and downs, and you need to really be committed to and passionate about what you’re doing to get you through the difficult times.

No matter how carefully you plan or the amount of knowledge you have, numerous things along the way won’t turn out how you expected.

For example, you might have staff members who leave, or natural disasters or break-ins that occur and damage your premises or destroy your inventory. You might face changes to laws or regulations which put a big dent in your plans, or have new competitors come in and take away a lot of your business.

No matter what happens, though, if you are determined to make your venture a success against all odds, and are passionate about the products or services you sell, customer experience you provide and industry you’re in, this will help you to “keep on keeping on” even when things get unexpectedly challenging.

Confidence and Positivity

Similarly, business owners need to have confidence in themselves and their organisation's offerings if they want to achieve their goals. If you don’t have enough belief, this could lead you to give up too quickly, or not go for great opportunities when they present themselves.

You need to be confident to speak to potential customers, investors, lenders, journalists and the like about your products, services, developments, and other news; and you need to have confidence that rubs off so your team gets fired up about their tasks and where the business is heading.

Positivity is another side of this coin. When you’re positive, you can find the benefits or opportunities in challenging situations where other people might decide to back down or give up.

Looking on the bright side of things is also important when it comes to leading a team, as no one wants to work in a company where negativity brings morale down or where results or effort is never appreciated.

You also need to be upbeat when dealing with customers and talking about your wares, or else consumers will not get excited enough to want to spend their money.

Creativity

Lastly, while many people think creativity is only key in arts-related industries like writing, music, photography, design, architecture, and fine arts, being innovative is crucial no matter what business your venture is involved in.

If you want to achieve your career goals, you need to continually look for ways to do things differently to everyone else, and to find creative ways to solve problems.

Leaders who have a focus on thinking outside the box will inspire their team to do bigger and better things, and will also be able to spot potential opportunities others miss.

As well, with consumers and markets evolving all the time, effective entrepreneurs need to do the same if they don’t want to get left behind.