It’s no secret that the success of an organization greatly depends on those that lead it. Aside from making the right decisions that will influence the trajectory of the whole institution, good leaders are also crucial in employee retention. In fact, a poll by Robert Half notes that almost half of employees will quit their job if placed under a bad boss.

Indeed, good leaders should aim to serve others first if they want the whole organization to achieve milestones and goals. In this post, let’s discuss the various qualities that make a good leader.

Understands the importance of synergized collaboration

Good leaders shouldn’t promote individualism in their organizations. They should be able to instill in their employees that the success of one is also the success of the whole workforce. With that in mind, exceptional leadership should be able to foster seamless collaboration in their workforce to produce outstanding results. To do this, leaders should strive to clearly communicate company expectations and define the roles of each individual. Moreover, they should also be driven and set goals for each employee that allows their efforts to be aligned with the desired outcomes of the organization. By successfully fostering collaboration in their workforce, good leaders can ensure the success of their organization.

Knows how to expertly handle and hire HR

Great employees are highly valuable business assets. For this reason, good leaders are professionals who know how to maintain, retain, and inspire their employees. Leaders that want to go the extra mile should then focus their efforts into making sure that the human resource department does its job properly. Chron explains how successful companies like FedEx, Sage Products, and Eileen Fisher are all known for having strong HR practices that have contributed to their success. This is why good leaders should only hire human resource professionals who are ready to face the challenges in maintaining today’s talent.

The good news is that there is a much wider pool of talent to choose from thanks to the increased availability of online degrees from established universities. Maryville University’s online human resource program shows how graduates coming from these remote courses are equipped with a comprehensive knowledge in business education, allowing them to greatly impact the retention, hiring, and development in your organization. Another qualification a leader should look out for when hiring a human resource expert is a Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification. This will show that they are specialized in all areas of HR and will help leaders run a successful team.

Committed to transparency

A highly effective way for leaders to keep their employees happy, as well as be seen as more trustworthy in the office, is to prioritize transparency. With transparency, leaders can establish certainty in the organization and keep employees in the loop. Employees who understand what the organization is doing and what it aims to achieve in the future are more likely to trust their bosses, experience organizational loyalty, and be more motivated to diligently do their part. Moreover, a study from the Zhongnan University of Finance and Economics reports that the transparent behaviors of leaders can positively impact employee creativity, as well as keep workers focused and driven. Leaders that commit to transparency know how to speak honestly, fearlessly share business performance, and are not afraid to disclose information.

Not afraid to seek criticism

Good leaders recognize that their employees can also develop good ideas that can lead the organization towards success. For this reason, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask their workers for criticism and input. To start, leaders should first assess themselves and identify their strengths and weaknesses. After that, they should prepare inviting questions that will make their employees and colleagues feel comfortable about providing feedback. Moreover, they should also successfully set the stage by inviting honest opinions and help the other person understand that defensiveness is the last thing on their mind. Through this, good leaders can widen their knowledge and come up with better strategies for the triumph of their organization.

While there may be some folks who are born with innate leadership traits, the best leaders in today’s world are those who are willing to improve themselves for the sake of their organization. Good leaders are individuals who understand selflessness and invest a lot of time into developing themselves, as well as the employees under them. If you’re a leader who wants to keep up with the times and greatly improve your skills, be sure to check our post “3 Power Skills of Strong Leaders”.