10 Leadership Skills That All Successful Business Leaders Should Possess

The phrase “Fake it until you make it” is not as universally applicable as it is made out to be. If you’re hoping to become a strong leader, it’s important that you come to the table with the knowledge, foresight, and information that you’ll need to succeed. You can’t lead well without being well-versed in what’s to come. So, buckle down and get to learning.

“The best leaders have a thirst for knowledge that can’t ever be quenched,” says John Berry, CEO and Managing Partner of Berry Law. “Anyone eager to cement their leadership status should take a similar approach.”

The options at your disposal for learning are endless. Of course, there’s the traditional route of attending an academic institution. But internships, volunteer work, and even a simple Google search can teach you as well, whether you’re gaining practical experience or more niche information.

6. Perseverance

It’s a long way to the top if you want to be successful. For leaders, this reality could not be more true. Employees will come and go. Markets will change. Heck, the globe might shut down temporarily. But through it all, successful leaders persevere.

“A never-give-up attitude is the largest asset to anyone looking to create a following for themselves,” says George Fraguio, Vice President of Bridge Lending at Vaster Capital. “Not only is it an admirable quality, but it’s also an easy one to get behind.”

If you feel that perseverance isn’t your strong suit, know that this is one trait you can train in much the same way you’d train a muscle. It takes consistent practice, but you can shift your mindset over time.

7. Problem-Solving Capabilities

Being a successful leader is no walk in the park—it will push you to personal and professional lengths you never dreamed of, starting the moment you assume the position. Possibly the most prominent example of this is when an unforeseen issue impedes the growth of the entity you’re leading. To combat this, you must become a multi-skilled problem solver.

“Each day as a leader is vastly different from the one that came before it,” says Andrew Chen, Chief Product Officer of Videeo. “To survive all this change, you must lead with flexibility and adaptability in mind—ready to reinvent your plan of action at a moment’s notice.”

Once again, this is a skill you can train, and there are several methods for doing so. From traditional puzzles to word games, keeping your brain sharp will make a difference in your leadership problem-solving.