Characteristics of High Performance Leaders
High performance leaders have many characteristics in common, albeit in varying degrees.  First, they have a vision of their dream for an organization and the ability to communicate that dream in such a way that excites the community.  They are charismatic and ethical, and are role models/“powers of example”.  Because they try to “walk the walk”, having integrity in all their endeavors, they inspire others into trusting their dreams and are perceived as trustworthy.   They also show trust in others, by empowering them and delegating authority.  They are thoughtful, and focus on “what and why” type questions, and avoid placing blame (“who” type questions) when problems occur.   They are considerate, actively listening to others, and are willing to sacrifice in order to move toward their vision.  They are confident in their vision and in their employees, and willing to risk mistakes.  This helps others not become “overly risk averse” in their thinking.  Although they are considerate of others’ points of view, they are confident in their own view as well as their ability to convey it to others.   These are the qualities to strive for.  

by David Morrissey