The boardroom was silent. A Tuesday morning Zoom grid flickered with quiet anticipation. Then, a VP leaned forward and said, “I don’t know exactly how this ends, but I know we’ll get through it together.” No one asked for a title or an org chart. The team leaned in because they showed up as a genuine human being: present, calm, and real.
After decades of coaching and observing leaders across industries, one truth has remained constant. The most impactful leaders aren’t defined by their titles, but by how they make others feel. They lead through human moments, not hierarchy. And while their styles may vary, they consistently embody seven traits that rarely appear on a job description but are always felt by the people they lead. In this piece Lubna Haq, highlights the seven traits good leaders have or aspire to.
1. Empathy: The leadership superpower
In countless team dynamics, a simple check-in can change everything. One leader noticed a colleague unusually quiet during a meeting. A private message later opened the door to a conversation about burnout and ultimately, retention.
Empathy isn’t just kindness. It’s strategic. It’s noticing what isn’t said, listening without rushing to fix, and understanding that silence might be fear, not disengagement. Time and again, empathy builds trust, and trust builds teams.
2. Strategic humility: Confidence without ego
Some of the most effective leaders begin with curiosity, not answers. They set direction, then invite others to shape the path. This isn’t indecision. It’s inclusive confidence.
Strategic humility allows leaders to be decisive without being domineering. It fosters collaboration, not compliance. In a world of constant change, humility isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.
3. Psychological Safety: The hidden engine of innovation
Google’s Project Aristotle confirmed what many high-performing teams already knew: people do their best work when they feel safe to speak, experiment, and fail.
One leader, on their first day, told the team, “I don’t expect you to be perfect. I expect you to be honest.” That one sentence shifted everything. It gave permission to take risks, ask questions, and grow.
When leaders create psychological safety, they unlock innovation. Because when people aren’t afraid of being wrong, they’re far more likely to be brilliant.
4. Translational communication: Making strategy human
Great leaders don’t just deliver strategy. They translate it. They turn abstract goals into meaningful action. They speak in ways that resonate, adapt to their audience, and listen as much as they speak. Some leaders take a dense corporate slide and make it personal: “Here’s why this matters to you. Here’s how you make a difference.” That’s not just communication, it’s connection.
5. Courageous decision-making: Values over comfort
Leadership often means choosing principle over popularity. Some executives have walked away from lucrative deals because the values didn’t align. In the short term, it raised eyebrows. In the long term, it built unshakable trust. Courage isn’t recklessness, it’s clarity. It’s choosing what’s right, even when it’s hard, and knowing that integrity is the ultimate competitive edge.
6. Talent multiplication: Building legacies, not dependencies
True leaders don’t just attract talent, they grow it. They champion others’ success as fiercely as their own, spot potential others miss, mentor generously, and build teams that thrive without them. Leadership isn’t about being irreplaceable. It’s about leaving behind a legacy of capability.
7. Inclusive leadership: Designing for difference
Inclusion isn’t a policy. It’s a practice. Some leaders respond to neurodiverse disclosures not with hesitation, but with curiosity: “What do you need to thrive?” That moment of acceptance often becomes a turning point in someone’s career.
Inclusive leaders design systems that work for everyone. They create spaces where people feel safe to be fully themselves and that’s where the most powerful contributions emerge.
The human imperative
Whether a head of function, a director, or an aspiring executive, decades of leadership coaching reveal a key insight: technical brilliance might get someone noticed. Human leadership is what makes them unforgettable.
The leaders who are remembered:
- Lead with empathy and clarity
- Make space for difference and dissent
- Build trust before demanding performance
- Develop others as a legacy, not a checklist
Conclusion
In the end, leadership isn’t about authority. It’s about the lives you change along the way. The decisions rooted in integrity that ripple far beyond the boardroom, and the culture you shape that allows others to thrive. True leadership is measured not by control, but by connection.