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What are the key qualities of a great leader?

Helen
3 min readJun 29, 2024

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Effective leaders understand the importance of genuine appreciation. They recognize that praise should not be given just for the sake of it, but rather as a sincere recognition of someone’s efforts or achievements. This means that leaders must take the time to truly understand and acknowledge the specific actions or qualities that deserve praise. By doing so, they demonstrate their attentiveness and show that they value the individual’s contributions.

Effective leaders know that praise should be timely and specific. They understand that delayed or generic praise can lose its impact and fail to motivate individuals. Therefore, leaders make a conscious effort to provide feedback and recognition in a timely manner, ensuring that it is relevant to the situation at hand. By being specific in their praise, leaders show that they have observed and appreciated the individual’s specific actions or behaviors, which further enhances the effectiveness of their praise.

Effective leaders understand the power of public recognition. They recognize that praising someone in front of their peers or colleagues can have a profound impact on their motivation and self-esteem. By publicly acknowledging someone’s achievements or efforts, leaders not only boost their confidence but also inspire others to strive for excellence. This creates a positive and supportive…

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Helen
Helen

Written by Helen

I’m a board member for the Harvard Creative Writing Collective and an outreach associate director for Harvard Women in Computer Science.

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