It can be challenging to be a leader. People who lead are often exposed to criticism, and sometimes the people who follow do not understand their motives. It doesn’t help that our society often places a premium on being a leader, yet what exactly makes a person a good leader remains in mystery. Many things can contribute to someone’s success as a leader, including managing emotions, building relationships, and performing under pressure. But how are these skills developed?

If you want to learn how to be a great leader, here are five things that all good leaders have in common:

1. They care about the success of the people around them.

Investing in others is just as crucial to good leaders as investing in themselves. They know that their success depends on the people around them, so they work hard to ensure that their peers, employees, friends, and family all have ways to grow and improve.

2. Not too reliant on other people’s approval

Managers should show their teams that they have their backs. You can’t depend on other people’s approval if you want to do this well and learn to be a good leader.

In another example, a manager who needs the approval of others might not make decisions that are unpopular in the short term but necessary in a long time.

3. Having the ability to share the limelight

Attention is excellent, but it’s different from what drives good leaders the most. They know that being a good leader is as simple as doing a good job.

Because of this, a crucial part of being a good leader is being willing to share the spotlight. They aren’t afraid of being ignored and don’t need praise for everything they do. They are too focused on reaching their goal and doing their work quickly.

4. Desire to learn

Leaders are constantly changing, just like people are. You have the chance to learn as long as you are alive.

I’ve been in situations as a manager where I thought I was doing everything right, but my team told me something different. Maybe my team didn’t like the way I did things, and I had to be willing to learn from them to get better.

5. Understand Who They Are

Self-awareness lets us put ourselves in situations where we can do well and allows us to be kind to ourselves when we don’t meet our own goals and expectations. Similarly, if we know ourselves, we will know our strengths. When we know our strengths, we can surround ourselves with people who compensate for our weaknesses and help us lead better.

Good leaders work on their emotional intelligence so their team members can look up to and follow them. They are open to their successes and failures, which helps them build trust in themselves and the people around them. They try to make people happy because they know that happy people are more productive.

First and foremost, becoming a successful leader involves developing one’s character. No matter your leadership position, you must prioritize your development. You can’t lead someone on a journey you haven’t taken yourself. So, investing in yourself now, no matter what stage of life or career you’re in, will pay dividends in the future for you and those you care about.