A behavioral scientist reveals the 1 surprising trait all successful leaders share

"What do all successful leaders have in common? Executive coaches might highlight shared qualities such as authenticity, charisma, or even the ability to foster psychological safety. That's wrong, says Jon Levy. Certainly, many influential people are intelligent and charming. But are any of these traits a prerequisite for wild success in a given industry? After all, some of the most famous leaders out there - say, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, and Elon Musk - don't really have all that much in common, personality-wise."

"It's an epiphany that occurred to Levy, an author and behavioral scientist, after hosting hundreds of dinner parties for successful people across various disciplines. He said he realized how unique all the leaders he knew were. 'When you study behavioral science, you realize that basically in every area of life, the things that we assume are true are just completely wrong,' Levy told Business Insider. 'You can't tell me there are these universal things that leaders have to have.'"

"What leaders share Levy explores what makes someone a successful leader in his third book, Team Intelligence: How Brilliant Leaders Unlock Creative Genius, which is out on Tuesday. What Levy found through his research and conversations with heads of business is that there is, in fact, something that unites leaders, but it's not as straightforward as charisma. After all, we can all think of bosses who are just plain awkward. Instead, these individuals share an ability to make us feel like we will have a better future, he says."

Widely assumed leadership traits such as charisma, authenticity, or high intelligence are not universal prerequisites for exceptional leadership. Observations from hundreds of gatherings and conversations with leaders across industries show that influential leaders vary widely in personality. The common factor among effective leaders is psychological: they make others feel they will have a better future through greater earnings, growth, or personal success. That capacity to inspire confidence about the future, rather than fixed personal qualities, appears to unite high-performing leaders and shapes how creative, productive teams are formed and led.

Read at Business Insider