10 Traits of Great Leaders & Life Coaches

Leaders and life coaches are about action. Leaders and coaches help others move forward toward a vision to accomplish goals. What other traits do leaders and coaches have in common? Let's look at the following ten traits of great leaders and life coaches.

1. Christ Centered: Christian coaches and leaders recognize Jesus Christ is the center of their life. Christian coaches and leaders help keep their clients and followers grounded in God's Word and their Christian faith. They seek to honor God in their decisions and actions, and they recognize they don't have the answers, only the questions.

2. Trustworthy: Trust is earned, not demanded and it is the most fundamental coaching and leadership skill. I once heard Colin Powell speak at a leadership conference and he said that you know you are a great leader when the people will follow you out of "sheer curiosity." Imagine that kind of trust! In a coaching relationship, clients must feel safe to share their dreams and fears without feeling judged. They want to know it is safe to be "real", and to feel there is mutual respect and acceptance. Do you think Jesus built trust with His disciples?

3. Honest: Everyone wants a coach and leader who speaks the truth in love. In being honest with others, a leader and coach understands that honesty honors the self while honoring others. To be honest is also being assertive and drawing boundaries as needed and saying no when you mean no, and yes when you mean yes.

4. Passionate: When I think of leaders with passion, I am reminded of Paul's passion to share the Gospel, and I think of Martin Luther King's passion for equal rights. They stood up for what they believed and this passion fueled and spurred them onward.

5. Change-Agent: Coaches and leaders help people clarify dreams and goals and then take action to accomplish far more than they could ever imagine doing on their own. Great coaches help clients explore the imaginative and step out courageously and boldly. Being creative means there will be some risk taking but if we stay in God's Word and prayerfully move forward, God will bring others around us for support. My mom tells me often that if I am not out of my comfort zone, then I am probably not walking in obedience to God. Ask, "What if?"

6. Encouraging: Words are so powerful and they can be used to build someone up or tear them down. How do you use words to build up others without coming across as a Pollyanna or cheerleader? How sincere are your words? Do you allow others to share the lead and step into the limelight and even outshine you when possible? Christian coaches and leaders help others lead, and that may be building teams, thinking and planning strategically, creating vision, building support systems and being accountable.

7. Know Themselves: Christian coaches and leaders are on a continuous journey to know themselves. They take assessments and survey their associates and clients regularly. Great coaches and leaders understand that most people often overlook their best qualities and don't realize how unique they are. In the book, Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado wrote, "DaVinci painted one Mona Lisa. Beethoven composed one Fifth Symphony. And God made one version of you. He custom designed you for a one-of-a-kind assignment. Mine like a gold digger the unique-to-you nuggets."
"Each person is given something to do that shows who God is". 1 Corinthians 12:7, The Message.

8. Authentic: Great coaches and leaders desire to be true to who God has called them to be. They bring their unique talents, gifts, life experiences, training and abilities to their profession. They learn lessons from the best and worst and embrace each as a step forward toward to become being their very best. They learn not to compare and know that they have a message to share that is uniquely theirs. God will place people into their paths who need to hear their unique story.

9. Visionary: Great coaches and leaders help others discover the vision God has placed in their hearts. As Goethe wrote, "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become that they are capable of becoming."  Andy Stanley, author of Visioneering, wrote, "Jesus had a vision of what Peter could become. Jesus saw in Peter the potential for greatness so he gave him a name that reflected his potential - the rock. From that day forward, Peter carried a constant reminder of what Jesus saw in him, what he could be. Visions draw and enchant. "A vision we give to others of who and what they could become has power when it echoes what the spirit has already spoken into their souls." ~ Larry Crabb

10. Courageous: The Bible gives great examples of leaders and how they stepped out boldy and courageously for God. Moses, David, Esther and Joshua are among a few who most likely felt butterflies in their stomach, must as we do today. Where did they muster the strength to go forward boldly for God? They found their strength in His Word.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous? Do not be terrified; Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NIV.

Today, we may not be leading people across the same desert and fighting giants in the same way; however, we do face our own giants and barren desert in the workplace, relationships and in the world. We must do so courageously, boldly and confidently grounded in our relationship and trust in God.

Who has been the most influential leader in your life?

What traits did they demonstrate?

How did this leader make an impact on your life?