The ASTD Leadership Handbook

Section III

Attributes of Successful Leaders

Attributes, competencies—what’s the difference? While competencies are more about the skills and knowledge leaders need, attributes are about the traits and qualities they must embody to be effective in their organizations. Leadership is not simply about style, a list of skills, how-tos, or achieving high scores in a 360-degree assessment. It is also about the personal qualities, values, habits, and motives that make up a leader’s moral fiber. Attributes go beyond skills; they describe the leader’s character. Thus attributes are not just what leaders are capable of doing but also what they actually ...