I came across this LinkedIn post and it really simplified how important just a few skills are that set great leaders apart from all the others – especially those leaders that create dysfunctional working environments and toxic company cultures.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7281662157908275200/

What resonated for me from this posting was the following:

A leader who trusts their team, and who is trusted by their team, is the real deal.

Empathy means a leader who shows true appreciation for their team.

Humility means a leader who does not always need to be the smartest one in the room, and who does not need to always be the one with the loudest voice.

If a leader is not being accountable for their own work, they should not be in charge of others work, and are better off just being an individual contributor.

Transparent communication is critical – if a leader is not open to sharing information, they are keeping their people and teams in the dark.

Being optimistic is not about creating a false environment of positivity that is not authentic – that is really what can lead to a toxic and dysfunctional culture.