What a Recent LinkedIn Poll Revealed About Great Leadership
A few weeks back, I initiated a poll on LinkedIn asking a simple but powerful question:
“What’s the one skill that truly differentiates an average leader from a great leader?”
The results were surprisingly clear — and deeply meaningful.
- 71% voted for Empathy / People Understanding
- 29% voted for Clear Communication
- 0% for Decision-making under pressure
- 0% for Accountability and ownership
This response says a lot about what people are experiencing in today’s workplaces and what they expect from leaders. It’s also a strong reminder that great leaders aren’t defined by their titles — they’re defined by their behaviours.
Why Empathy Stands Out
We often hear about strategic thinking, quick decision-making, or strong communication. All of these matter — but none of them work effectively without empathy.
Empathy is the ability to:
- Understand people before directing them
- Listen before responding
- Support before judging
- Put people first before processes
When leaders genuinely understand their people, trust grows. And when trust grows, performance, loyalty, and innovation follow automatically.
Empathy is not a soft skill — it’s a power skill.
Behaviours That Separate Great Leaders From Average Ones
Based on the poll insights and real-world observations, here are the core behaviours that truly define great leadership:
1. Empathy & People Understanding
Great leaders make people feel heard, valued, and understood.
They don’t just manage workloads — they manage energy, emotions, and expectations.
2. Clear and Transparent Communication
29% chose communication, and rightly so. Without clarity, people move in confusion.
Great leaders simplify complexity and give direction without ambiguity.
3. Calm Decision-Making Under Pressure
Even though no one voted for it, this behaviour still separates true leadership.
A great leader stays composed, asks the right questions, and makes decisions that consider both people and outcomes.
4. Ownership and Accountability
Leadership isn’t about blaming the team when things go wrong.
It’s about standing with the team, owning the results, and guiding them toward better outcomes.
Key Takeaways for Good Leaders
Here are some practical, actionable takeaways every leader should practice:
1. Listen to understand, not to respond.
Make people feel safe sharing their challenges and ideas.
2. Be clear in communication.
Ambiguity creates stress. Clarity creates direction.
3. Show up consistently — in your behaviour, not just your title.
Leaders earn respect daily through actions.
4. Lead with kindness.
Kindness doesn’t reduce performance; it improves it.
5. Make decisions with a balance of head and heart.
Great leaders consider data and people.
6. Take responsibility, not credit.
Your team’s success is your success — their failure is your responsibility.
7. Build trust through honesty.
Whether it’s good or bad news, communicate honestly and respectfully.
Final Thought
Leadership is evolving.
People no longer follow titles — they follow behaviours.
And when 71% of professionals choose empathy, it’s a powerful signal:
The future of leadership is human.