The Natural Leader Blog

How To Become A Natural Leader

Posted in News
3rd October 2024

Becoming a natural leader, is not about your ability to reiterate leadership models, acronyms, theories or case studies. Nor is it about having read the latest book, demonstrating the greatest technical expertise or achieved the most amount in your day.  So what is it about?

When you notice those who seem to have a ‘natural leadership instinct’, they are often the leaders who have spent time investing in their personal leadership. The result is that they are highly equipped to drive sustainable change, deliver rapidly and become more able to sustain their own optimal leadership performance because it is naturally sourced.

The 3 traits of a natural leader

Notice someone who you consider to be a natural leader and think about how they made you feel when you were last with them. The chances are that they will display three traits consistently. They will probably be:

  • Intellectually calm. Holding a presence of mind, a positive and abundant mindset brings a stillness about the way they hold themselves and an ability to be solely concentrated on where they are and who they are with
  • Physically at ease. They are physically at ease, they don’t hold tension or anxiety, meaning they feel relaxed and others feel relaxed in their presence. This way of being affords greater creativity, inclusion and possibility.
  • Emotionally open. Comfortable and willing to feel human emotion, they connect with emotion in themselves and are confident in working with emotion in others. They find strength in vulnerability.

“The natural leader effortlessly influences, enablers and aligns others around a common goal, simply by making a conscious decision about how they choose to ‘be’. They already know what to do and how to do it. This is about doing it brilliantly well”

What characteristics does a natural leader have?

Here are five characteristics that are highly developed and regularly practiced in the natural leader.

  • Authenticity. They are authentic at all times. They are confident in who they are and what they stand for and are capable of vulnerability.
  • Congruence. They are congruent. Whoever they are with, what they think, feel and do at any one time is always aligned.
  • Conscious communication. They flex their communication skills to those they are with, while remaining authentic and congruent.
  • Choice. They understand that they are always at choice and hold a mindset of abundance and possibility.
  • Adaptability in their leadership style. They move effortlessly between leadership styles most appropriate for the situation yet remain authentic in each.

10 skills of a natural leader

Many of the key traits can be learned and developed. Here are ten skills that can be worked upon to develop the natural leader:

1. Develop Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness: Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and emotional triggers. A leader who is in tune with their own emotions can better handle stress and make balanced decisions.

Empathy: Be able to understand and feel what others are going through. This helps build trust a deeper level of connection and stronger relationships with your team.

Self-regulation: Stay calm under pressure, and respond thoughtfully, from a point of choice, rather than react impulsively.

2. Communicate Clearly and Effectively

Active listening: A great leader listens more than they talk. Pay attention to your team’s input and concerns, and acknowledge their contributions. Use the three levels of listening.

Clear vision: Share your goals and vision with clarity and conviction. The ability to inspire and engage through communication helps align your team toward a common purpose.

Adapt your communication style: Different people respond to different types of communication. Tailor your approach to what works best for each person or situation.

3. Lead by Example

Integrity: Always act in alignment with your values.

Work ethic: Show that you are willing to put in the effort required to achieve goals. Hard work and dedication will inspire others to do the same.

Consistency: Be reliable and consistent in your decisions and actions. This builds trust over time.

4. Empower and Develop Others

Delegate: Trust your team with responsibilities and demonstrate confidence in their abilities to foster a sense of ownership and accountability.

Mentor and coach: Person first, task second. Help others grow by offering guidance and feedback. Support their professional development.

Celebrate achievements: Recognize both individual and team successes. This boosts morale and motivates further effort.

5. Cultivate Confidence and Humility

Be decisive: Natural leaders aren’t afraid to make tough decisions, but they also consult their teams when appropriate. Strive for a balance between decisiveness and openness to input.

Own your mistakes: When you make a mistake, celebrate the learning. Humility fosters respect and allows others to see that learning is a continual process and failing is a necessary step for innovation.

Stay confident, not ego: Confidence inspires others, but arrogance pushes people away. There’s no place for ego in a natural leader. Maintain a balance by being assertive and work actively to include different perspectives.

6. Be Adaptable and Open to Change

Embrace flexibility: Natural leaders are adaptable. They don’t rigidly stick to one way of doing things; they evolve as situations change.

Seek continuous improvement: Always look for ways to grow personally and professionally. Encourage your team to do the same by promoting innovation and learning.

7. Foster a Positive and Inclusive Culture

Create a supportive environment: Encourage collaboration, respect, and openness within the team.

Be approachable: Let your team know you’re available for them. Be open to feedback, both positive and negative.

Promote diversity: Embrace different perspectives and create an inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels valued.

8. Stay Resilient and Handle Challenges Gracefully

Stay calm in crisis: During tough times, your composure can influence how your team responds. Lead with calm and clear thinking. Take accountability for managing your ‘state’.

Problem-solving: Approach challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Inspire your team to tackle obstacles with a solution-oriented mindset.

Persist: Leadership often means persevering in the face of adversity. Keep going and motivate your team to stay focused on long-term goals.

9. Build Strong Relationships

Network: The natural leader appreciates that progress is delivered through managing and maintaining relationships. Connections with those inside and outside your organisation provide support, insight, and opportunities.

Relationships: Assess the strength and health of your relationships. Understand the 8 key relationship skills and know which skills need work in which relationship.

10. Learn from Other Leaders

Study successful leaders: The natural leader is insatiable in their appetite to learn. Read books, listen to podcasts, or attend workshops focused on leadership. Learn from their experiences, both successes and failures.

Seek feedback: Regularly ask for feedback on your leadership style from your team, peers, and mentors. This helps you identify areas for improvement

Natural leadership results in optimal and enduring performance. That is why here at The natural leader we have developed a holistic leadership development and training model. Leadership is about enabling and serving others by building meaningful relationships, creating a positive environment, and showing genuine care for your team’s growth.

None of this can be sustained unless it comes from the leader’s most natural and most resourceful place.