What do great leaders have in common? In this blog we talk about 6 qualities that all great leaders have.

1. Have a central goal in mind

Leaders have a goal in mind that goes beyond just 'making money'. This goal is often philosophical and, in the eyes of most people, difficult to achieve. And that is precisely what characterizes the real leader. Entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson and Mark Zuckerberg teach us that having a higher purpose can further grow your organization. Branson started out when he was 15^e already a magazine to mobilize young people against the Vietnam War. And Zuckerberg, he has made it his mission to get everyone in the world using the internet with the Internet.org project. Philosophical goals that may seem far-fetched, but can give an organization a very strong shared culture and purpose. Of course, they also serve the ultimate goal of the organization: growth.

2. Inspire others and give them freedom

It's in our blood to protect what we have. A conflict quickly arises with employees who want to start their own business or who have a different idea. Our natural reaction is to protect our own business and thus 'forbid' entrepreneurial initiative among employees in complex contracts. However, there is a good chance that people from your team have very strong ideas that can come to fruition faster with your support. Great leaders inspire their staff and promote their own initiative. Large organizations such as Google and Apple encourage their employees to become entrepreneurs themselves.

3. Show your gratitude

Giving recognition and showing gratitude are very important characteristics of any great leader. For example, this is one of the points on which Steve Jobs has often been criticized. He is depicted as a fairly authoritarian person who made fun of the achievements of others. Too bad, considering Jobs' stellar career. Entrepreneurs like Ricardo Semler, the CEO of Semco who we wrote about before, makes it their life motto to reward employees for their performance. For example, with profit sharing or shares. A good example of this type of reward is also found in the sale of Instagram, where employees were paid part of the sales price as a bonus.

4. Work hard for your idea

An entrepreneur has to work hard and, above all, quickly. If you believe in your own idea, don't let it discourage you. Some won't believe in your idea, but never forget, these people don't have the vision which you do have. So go for it 100%, with complete dedication. Gary Vaynerchuk, who raised the family business to great heights in the past, is a supporter of the 'harder and faster' vision. Not only work harder to implement your idea, but also faster. Always challenge yourself to work more efficiently and make your vision a success.

5. Give without expecting anything in return

You know it. You make an effort to help someone, hoping to eventually get something in return. All those hours that you helped and advised your lead only to hear that they still assign the job to someone else. It can be very frustrating and bitter, and yet this is part of your success. Vaynerchuck has a wonderful vision in this area, which he expresses in the quote 'When you learn to generally give to people without expecting them to do something in return, you win!'. People do business with people, not with brands or companies. By always doing something for someone in your network without immediate expectations, you ultimately build real value.

6. Be an example

You may not immediately notice it, but your employees mirror you. The manager, director or entrepreneur is always the example. If you work until late at night every day, there is a good chance that your employees also feel the pressure to work in the evenings. Carla Christofferson, managing partner at a law firm in Los Angeles, also experienced this. Through a 360 degree feedback project, she learned that her own long working hours were an important cause of the upcoming burn out of a number of associates within her company. She then decided to set an example and work less on a structural basis. The associates felt free to follow her.

What characterizes your vision? And how do you apply this in practice? Let us know and be responsible for inspiring your colleagues and other professionals, leaders or entrepreneurs