Read the interview with a psychologist and find out personal qualities of a good leader

Presenter: Do you have what it takes to be a successful leader? It seems that some of us do, but the most of us don’t. Dr Graaf, what is it exactly that distinguishes a really good leader from everyone else?

Dr Graaf: Well, David, let me begin by assuring our readers that they probably have some of the unique personal qualities necessary for good leadership. Honesty, fairness and intelligence, for example, are all qualities you would expect to find among successful bosses, managers and team leaders. The same people are also often polite and humorous.

Presenter: That sounds exactly like my friend Tom. He’s kind, funny and generous. Everybody likes him because he’s always making us laugh!

Dr Graaf: Yes, but how does your friend behave in difficult or, perhaps, dangerous situations? Tom sounds like a very likeable person, but I’m afraid that being popular just isn’t enough. It takes a lot more than that to be a good leader. You see, leaders sometimes have to make decisions which don’t please everybody. Suppose you are a boss and you have to tell ten hard-working members of staff that your company can no longer afford to employ them. Bosses not only have to be absolutely sure that they are making the right choices, they must also be strong and determined enough to act on those choices, even if doing so occasionally makes them unpopular. Or imagine being responsible for the safety of hundreds of people who are trapped in a burning building. People usually panic in this situation, or simply don’t know what to do. Leaders must be able to think fast and act quickly in all kinds of circumstances. They have to stay calm, cool-headed and in control, even if others are not.

Presenter: No wonder good leaders are so rare! Dr Graaf, thank you very much for being with us today.