Leaders Are Made, Not Born — How to Build the Habits of Great Leadership

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Ted Bonel 5. LEADERSHIP

At first glance, leadership seems like a matter of style.
Some leaders are loud and charismatic. Others are calm and analytical.

But real leadership isn’t about style — it’s about substance.

Vision, action, and spirit make up the essence of leadership.
Style is what people see. Substance is what they feel.

As one wise CEO once told me, “Style may inspire followers, but substance creates leaders.”

The Substance of Leadership

Leadership isn’t about personality — it’s about purpose.
It’s knowing what to do, how to do it, and influencing others to make it happen.

There are quiet leaders and bold ones; introverts and extroverts.
But the ones who create impact all share a few key skills — not traits they were born with, but disciplines they developed.

The 6 Core Skills of Effective Leadership

  1. Vision

The ability to see what’s possible — to create a clear, inspiring picture of the future and communicate it in a way that others believe it, too.

Leaders aren’t fortune tellers; they’re storytellers who give people a direction worth following.

  1. Discrimination

Great leaders know what’s important — and what’s noise.
They make decisions when rules or precedents don’t exist.
They ask the right questions before giving answers.

  1. Strategic Thinking

Seeing the big picture, setting the course, and creating the rules of your own game.
It’s about inventing the system that delivers your purpose — not just managing the one that exists.

  1. Commitment

Passion is the fuel; commitment is the engine.
When obstacles appear (and they always do), commitment keeps leaders moving.

  1. Inspirational Communication

True leaders don’t just inform — they ignite.
They connect people to purpose and infuse teams with energy, clarity, and shared belief.

  1. Developing People

This is the mark of great leadership: developing other leaders.
Managers create followers.
Leaders create capability that endures beyond themselves.

Leadership Is a Process, Not a Title

Much has been written about leadership traits and techniques.
But here’s the truth: leadership isn’t an event — it’s a practice.

It doesn’t happen in a week, or even a month.
It happens through daily application — leading meetings, coaching people, making decisions, handling setbacks.

Leadership is built in the small moments when you choose integrity over comfort, consistency over convenience, and people over ego.

Character: The Real Test of Leadership

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” — Abraham Lincoln

Skill determines effectiveness.
Character determines endurance.

It’s possible to be a capable leader and still fail when character collapses.

The best leaders align skills with virtues — competence with conscience.

The Top 10 Traits of Great Leaders

  1. Visionary
  2. Honest and Ethical
  3. Excellent Communicator
  4. Inspiring
  5. Dedicated and Resilient
  6. Humble
  7. Open-Minded
  8. Creative and Innovative
  9. Decisive
  10. Influential and Empowering

These traits aren’t innate. They’re cultivated — through reflection, accountability, and feedback.

As Antony Jay once said:

“The only real training for leadership is leadership.”

You learn by doing. You grow by choosing to show up differently, one decision at a time.

Final Thought

Leadership isn’t about being in charge.
It’s about being worth following.

Know where you’re going.
Communicate it clearly.
Develop others along the way.

Because leadership isn’t about you — it’s about what happens through you.

Want help developing leadership habits across your executive team?

Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting

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Strategy and Execution Business Advisors and Scaling Up Coaches in Brisbane & Australia

TED BONEL, SCALING UP PRACTITIONER – STRATEGY & EXECUTION BUSINESS ADVISORS

Are you looking to scale your business and execute strategy with clarity and impact? I help CEOs and founders turn big ideas into real-world results, guiding small to mid-market companies through tailored strategic insights that drive growth.

My expertise lies in simplifying complexity – bridging high-level strategic frameworks with the practical realities of running a business. Unlike many consultants who focus solely on theory or execution, I specialise in both—translating strategy into actionable, transformative steps that deliver lasting results.

Want help developing leadership habits across your executive team?
Contact me at tedb@strategyandexecution.com.au to schedule a free 30-minute discovery meeting.

 

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