11 Traits of Great Leaders

I’ve come to a conclusion: I want to work with great leaders.
A great leader might be a dad, a mom, a President, a CEO, a teacher, a kid, a homeless person or a trash handler.
But the definition of ‘great’ differs from person to person. Here’s mine:

1. Someone who treats people with respect.
2. They have a sense of higher purpose. That’s getting a little spiritual, but what it really means is that it’s not all about the money or the prestige or the power.
3. They have vision. This goes with higher purpose. But it’s a little more. They have a specific end in mind that’s not about the money, prestige or power, either. They can see beyond the facts in front of them. It’s not just about the facts!
4. They’re kind in a good-hearted way. It’s not about being ‘sweet’ or ‘soft’, it’s about genuinely caring about the person in front of them and trying to see their potential.
5. They have a good sense of humor, but not at someone else’s expense. They can laugh at the little absurdities they run into every day.
6. They’re smart! Not necessarily book smart, but they use their intuition to guide them.
7. They have boundaries. They’re not pushovers. They expect a certain level of ethics, effort and application of personal talents from everyone, just as they do from themselves.
8. And, they expect that you’ll bring those personal talents to the table with all the energy you can muster.
9. They share. They’re generous with their gifts and talents. They don’t always expect to be paid for it with money. Sometimes the payment is knowing they helped another person like them succeed, and they’ll probably get help in return.
10. They learn from past mistakes. They don’t hold people hostage for past mistakes. You goofed. It’s OK. Let’s move on.
11. They illuminate the opportunities of the present moment. They’re adaptable. They understand there’s always an opportunity and are always looking for it.

Barack Obama, John McCain, take note. Can you follow these traits?
What makes someone a great leader for you?