Do you have what it takes?

10 science-backed signs you're a natural-born leader

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Whether it’s at school, among friends, in college, at work, or even in times of crisis, there’s always someone who steps up to lead. While some people find themselves pushed into leadership roles and simply do their best, research suggests that natural leaders are born with certain qualities. Here are 10 key traits that define if you are a good leader; see how many you’ve got!

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Nothing builds trust like consistency. People who say one thing and do another quickly lose credibility, while effective leaders lead with integrity, keep their word, and follow through. Their actions match their words, and that earns respect.

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If people feel comfortable coming to you with ideas, that’s a strong sign of natural leadership. Great leaders make others feel heard, respected, and valued, qualities that inspire trust and cooperation.

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Good leaders don’t just know how to do the job; they also empower others to shine in theirs. Delegating tasks shows that you trust your team and believe in their abilities. When people feel you trust them, they feel empowered, they’re more motivated to give their best, and the whole group benefits.

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Even the best leaders fail at times. In fact, difficult moments often reveal what kind of leader you are. A strong leader knows how to manage frustration, takes responsibility for mistakes (whether their own or their team’s), learns from them, and stays open to new ideas.

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Just as failure tests a leader’s character, so does success. True leaders stay grounded, continue to work hard, and celebrate victories while giving credit where it’s due. They know that great achievements are the result of teamwork, not egos.

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A great leader knows how to listen, offer thoughtful advice, and suggest practical solutions. When others turn to you in moments of doubt or difficulty, it’s because they see you as someone who provides guidance and support without judgment or negativity.

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Strong leaders understand that everyone’s voice matters. They listen to different perspectives and seek solutions that work for everyone, without getting stuck in their own way of doing things. Open-mindedness allows a leader to manage people and resources wisely, creating a positive and collaborative environment.

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Leadership isn’t always easy. At times, it requires setting boundaries and reminding others of the goals ahead. An effective leader knows how to be firm and decisive without losing empathy.

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A natural leader shines when things get tough. In moments of problems or uncertainty, they stay calm, think clearly, and use their problem-solving skills to guide the team forward. Instead of panicking, they help everyone stay focused, positive, and motivated.

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Leadership isn’t about sitting back and giving orders. Real leaders roll up their sleeves and work alongside their team, often even harder. They set the tone through dedication and example, putting in the effort even after everyone else has gone home.

Corporate expressions

Office jargon that annoys everyone: Are you guilty of these?

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Are there workplace expressions that get on your nerves? Many people confess to being exasperated by formal euphemisms that have become classics of office communication. We’ve gathered a few of the most commonly complained-about phrases and the thoughts people have said they provoke in them. Let’s see: Have you been using these expressions?

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Translation: "We are going to have to address this problem sometime soon, but let’s not do it right now." Sometimes it’s a dodge, sometimes procrastination, and sometimes it genuinely postpones an issue until further details are available. Which brings us to the next piece of office jargon…

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Aren’t we all moving parts in the big machines that our jobs have become? This expression is often used to make a project sound complex and dynamic, highlighting everything that needs to fall into place to accomplish a goal. But more often than not, all of those "moving parts" would rather spend more time moving and less time in meetings!

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Ah, yes, nothing says it quite like this expression: "I’m nervous about your ability to handle this project entirely unsupervised, so I will need to check in on your progress soon." Or at least, that’s what a lot of people hear behind it!

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On the surface, it’s a helpful phrase about tackling the easy wins first. But a lot of people agree it has become a bit overused. It’s also not very encouraging when a lot of our tasks are referred to as "low-hanging fruit"!

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This term originated in IT departments, referring to a system’s ability to handle simultaneous tasks. It wasn’t long until the term began being applied to people. Now, workers can be asked if they have the "bandwidth" to take on further responsibilities.

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This line is often regarded as the number-one passive-aggressive interjection. "Per my last email" is the office worker’s battle cry, wielded after someone continues to ignore a request or has overlooked important information already shared. It’s polite on the surface, but you can feel the underlying frustration.

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A favorite for smoothing over mistakes without admitting fault. "Going forward, we’ll make sure the invoices go out on time" translates to: "Oops, we forgot again, but let’s pretend this is a new chapter." It can also appear in the form of a request: "Let’s hope this doesn’t happen again going forward."

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People tend to fear this word. It may be because it often serves as a euphemism for "dynamics that can’t be escaped within this team." Of course, very good teams can develop excellent synergy. But if the term keeps coming up as an impossible standard to reach, it can become frustrating.

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Those are the magic words everyone wants to hear after a long virtual meeting. "Let’s take it offline" sounds like music to tired ears after four hours of awkward Zoom exchanges. It also means: "We’ll deal with this later, at a time when we can both take our sweet time replying to each other."

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This phrase is meant to encourage efficiency, but it often reminds everyone that they’ve been stuck in the same workflow since 2003. It’s the last thing you want to hear if you are an inventive worker with concrete suggestions for new systems that might be better.

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This term can feel vague and impersonal. It refers to people who might be interested in a situation or outcome, but it often sounds inflated. Couldn’t we just say "the people affected" instead?

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It might be intimidating when you are asked to "ideate." Do they mean they want you to think? Why not simply use that word? A clearer alternative would be "come up with ideas" or "brainstorm," another corporate classic.

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This expression originates from the 1950s ad agencies. It means "let’s see what the higher-ups think" or "test the idea before committing." To many, it sounds outdated, overly formal, and somewhat intimidating.