Forbes lists honesty, commitment, and confidence as some of the outstanding qualities of a good leader. Exemplary leaders also possess creativity, a positive attitude, and a strong intuition.
A leader gains true authority from respect for her exemplary character and integrity. The leader, therefore, should “walk the talk” so as to earn the legitimacy to have responsibility for and over others. Both a business and its employees reflect the qualities of their leader, so if the leader makes honest and ethical behavior a key value, the team generally follows suit.