Qualities of Good Leadership

75,000 people, on six continents over a period of 15 years were asked to identify the characteristics and qualities of good leadership (J M Kouzes & B Z Posner, 2002, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass). Below you will find the results of this research.

Over at the good leadership skills page you will discover a separate list of skills -- which are slightly different from this list of characteristics.

As we discussed in the Skills Analysis Page please do not expect to excel in all these leadership qualities, skills and characteristics. Firstly it's impossible and secondly you'll place too much stress on yourself.

Leadership Qualities and Characteristics List

Characteristics	2002	1995	1987
Honest	88	88	83
Forward-Looking	71	75	62
Competent	65	63	67
Inspiring	66	68	58
Intelligent	35	40	43
Fair-minded	47	49	40
Broad-minded	40	40	37
Supportive	42	41	32
Straightforward	34	33	34
Dependable	33	32	32
Co-operative	24	28	25
Determined	20	17	20
Imaginative	23	28	34
Ambitious	17	13	21
Courageous	28	29	27
Caring	21	23	26
Mature	20	13	23
Loyal	14	11	11
Self-Controlled	8	5	13
Independent	6	5	10