

Who do you consider to be a good leader?

Maybe it's a politician, a famous businessperson, or a religious figure. Or maybe it's someone you know personally – like your boss, a teacher, or a friend. You can find people in leadership roles almost everywhere you look.

However, simply having the responsibilities of a leader doesn't necessarily make a person an effective leader. This is a shame because, with a little study, humility and hard work, all of us can learn to lead effectively.

So, how can you do this?

You can start by analyzing your performance in specific areas of leadership. Watch our video, and then complete the quiz below to identify where you already lead effectively, and to explore where your skills need further development. In the analysis sections underneath, we'll direct you to the resources you need to be an exceptional leader.

Click here to view a transcript of this video.

How Good Are Your Leadership Skills?

Instructions

For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer questions as you actually are (rather than how you think you should be), and don't worry if some questions seem to score "in the wrong direction." When you are finished, please click the "Calculate My Total" button at the bottom of the test.

Your last quiz results are shown. You last completed this quiz on , at . Reset Your Score 18 Statements to Answer Not at All Rarely Some- times Often Very Often 1 When assigning tasks, I consider people's skills and interests. 2 I doubt myself and my ability to succeed. 3 I expect nothing less than top-notch results from people. 4 I expect my people to work harder than I do. 5 When someone is upset, I try to understand how he or she is feeling. 6 When circumstances change, I can struggle to know what to do. 7 I think that personal feelings shouldn't be allowed to get in the way of performance and productivity. 8 I am highly motivated because I know I have what it takes to be successful. 9 Time spent worrying about team morale is time that's wasted. 10 I get upset and worried quite often in the workplace. 11 My actions show people what I want from them. 12 When working with a team, I encourage everyone to work toward the same overall objectives. 13 I make exceptions to my rules and expectations. It's easier than being the enforcer all the time! 14 I enjoy planning for the future. 15 I feel threatened when someone criticizes me. 16 I make time to learn what people need from me, so that they can be successful. 17 I'm optimistic about life, and I can see beyond temporary setbacks and problems. 18 I think that teams perform best when individuals keep doing the same tasks and perfecting them, instead of learning new skills and challenging themselves. Calculate My Total Total = 0 Score Interpretation Score Comment 18-34 You need to work hard on your leadership skills. The good news is that if you use more of these skills at work, at home, and in the community, you'll be a real asset to the people around you. You can do it – and now is a great time to start! (Read below to start.) 35-52 You're doing OK as a leader, but you have the potential to do much better. While you've built the foundation of effective leadership, this is your opportunity to improve your skills, and become the best you can be. Examine the areas where you lost points, and determine what you can do to develop skills in these areas. (Read below to start.) 53-90 Excellent! You're well on your way to becoming a good leader. However, you can never be too good at leadership or too experienced – so look at the areas where you didn't score maximum points, and figure out what you can do to improve your performance. (Read below to start.)

There are many leadership skills and competencies that, when combined and applied, go toward making you an effective leader. You have the ability to develop each of these skills within yourself. Read on for specific ideas on how you can improve your leadership skills!

Personal Characteristics

Successful leaders tend to have certain traits. Two keys areas of personal growth and development are fundamental to leadership success: self-confidence and a positive attitude.

Self-confident people are usually inspiring, and people like to be around individuals who believe in themselves and in what they're doing. Likewise, if you're a positive and optimistic person who tries to make the best of any situation, you'll find it much easier to motivate people to do their best.