What Makes You A Good Leader, According To Science

This is a question we all ask ourselves: How can I be a better leader? Well, science has the answer. Researchers from Yale and MIT analyzed leadership studies and found that there are three primary traits that make someone a good leader: mental toughness, strategic focus and empathy. If you want to be an effective leader in your organization or in your personal life, consider focusing on these skills at work or home.

1. Mental Toughness

Scientific studies suggest that mental toughness, which is comprised of four parts, makes leaders stand out:

• The ability to set aside self-interest for the greater good.

• The ability to bounce back after experiencing failure or personal loss.

• A powerful presence brought upon by poise under pressure.

• A laser focus on achieving goals

The best leaders are willing to put others ahead of themselves at all times and maintain their composure when faced with adversity. Even if you don't consider yourself much of a leader now, developing these skills can help you improve in your professional role and become the type of person others want to follow.

2. Strategic Focus

Leaders who can stay focused despite distractions tend to fare better than those who can't. For example, someone might be really good at grasping new concepts, but this isn't as important to leadership success as the ability to stick with a problem until it is resolved.

The best leaders are able to stay laser-focused on getting things done and do so by maintaining motivation in the face of adversity or frustration, the perfect balance between finding something stimulating and challenging while also being achievable.

3. Empathy

Lead by connecting with other people through emotional intelligence; great leaders are able to stir up emotions in others that drive them to perform better or feel inspired.

They understand what their employees need (whether that's social support or autonomy) and then communicate that back effectively. And not only does empathy make for a good leader, it can help employees feel a stronger connection to their organization.

Today's work world is ripe with opportunities to take your leadership skills to the next level. If you want to develop yourself and become a great leader, try focusing on practicing these three traits: mental toughness, strategic focus and empathy. By working on these skills every day, we can all become better leaders.