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The Top Ten Characteristics Of Excellent Leaders

The Mental Game Of Business

Bill Cole, MS, MA
Founder and CEO
William B. Cole Consultants
Silicon Valley, Californi
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Mental Game Coach Bill Cole Peak Performance Playbook

What makes a good leader? What have people who have led you done that you admired? What qualities should more leaders possess? What are the most valuable qualities a leader should possess? What are the most basic qualities a leader should own? Most of us would agree that we need to respect a leader we would follow. Some leaders have feet of clay, but we might follow them anyway. What are the qualities that might disqualify someone from being a leader? Read this list and discover the top ten characteristics of excellent leaders.    261 words.

"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." -- Warren Bennis

What makes a good leader? What have people who have led you done that you admired? What qualities should more leaders possess? What are the most valuable qualities a leader should possess? What are the most basic qualities a leader should own?

Most of us would agree that we need to respect a leader we would follow. Some leaders have feet of clay, but we might follow them anyway. What are the qualities that might disqualify someone from being a leader?

This is my list of what I admire in a leader. Where do you agree or disagree? What would you add?


  1. The ability to learn from themselves and others, no matter the situation.
  2. A humbleness that is inspiring.
  3. Integrity, honesty and a strong moral compass
  4. Mental toughness and resilience under adversity.
  5. Capacity for love, compassion, sensitivity and understanding.
  6. Ability to breach the dichotomy between big vision and the smallest detail.
  7. Sincere respect for human dignity and genuine concern for others.
  8. Taking responsibility for themselves and their behavior.
  9. Inspiring words, actions and emotions that propel others to go beyond their preconceived limits.
  10. The ability to renew themselves and others through story, humor, perspective and reflection.


Leaders know themselves. Leaders help themselves. Leaders use themselves as vehicles for good. Leaders embody what is good and right in the world. Leaders shine the light so others can come out of the darkness.

"A leader is a dealer in hope." --
Napoleon

Bill Cole, MS, MA, a leading authority on peak performance, mental toughness and coaching, is founder and CEO of William B. Cole Consultants, a consulting firm that helps organizations and professionals achieve more success in business, life and sports. He is also the Founder and President of the International Mental Game Coaching Association (www.mentalgamecoaching.com), an organization dedicated to advancing the research, development, professionalism and growth of mental game coaching worldwide. He is a multiple Hall-Of-Fame honoree as an athlete, coach and school alumnus, an award-winning scholar-athlete, published book author and articles author, and has coached at the highest levels of major-league pro sports, big-time college athletics and corporate America. For a free, extensive article archive, or for questions and comments visit him at www.MentalGameCoach.com.

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