You may agree with the attributes/character traits presented below or disagree with them...either way, give them some thought. Create your own list...a list you can live and lead by.

For my part, and seeking simple, I think the required attributes of leadership can be summed up in 3 major qualities:

1. Intelligence
2. Self-control
3. Drive

1. UNWAVERING COURAGE. 
Based upon knowledge of self, and of one’s occupation. No follower wishes to be dominated by a leader who lacks self-confidence and courage. No intelligent follower will be dominated by such a leader very long. [some thoughts on Courage]

2. SELF-CONTROL.
The man who cannot control himself, can never control others. Self-control sets a mighty example for one’s followers, which the more intelligent will emulate. [some thoughts on self-control]

3. A KEEN SENSE OF JUSTICE.
Without a sense of fairness and justice, no leader can command and retain the respect of his followers. [some thoughts on keen sense of justice]

4. DEFINITENESS OF DECISION.
The man who wavers in his decisions, shows that he is not sure of himself. He cannot lead others successfully. [some thoughts on definiteness of decision]

5. DEFINITENESS OF PLANS.
The successful leader must plan his work, and work his plan. A leader who moves by guesswork, without practical, definite plans, is comparable to a ship without a rudder. Sooner or later he will land on the rocks. [some thoughts on definiteness of plans]

6. THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR.
One of the penalties of leadership is the necessity of willingness, upon the part of the leader, to do more than he requires of his followers. [some thoughts on doing more than paid for]

7. A PLEASING PERSONALITY.
No slovenly, careless person can become a successful leader. Leadership calls for respect. Followers will not respect a leader who does not grade high on all of the factors of a Pleasing Personality. [some thoughts on pleasing personality]

8. SYMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING.
The successful leader must be in sympathy with his followers. Moreover, he must understand them and their problems. [some thoughts on empathy and understanding]

9. MASTERY OF DETAIL.
Successful leadership calls for mastery of details of the leader’s position. [some thoughts on mastery of detail]

10. WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY.
The successful leader must be willing to assume responsibility for the mistakes and the shortcomings of his followers. If he tries to shift this responsibility, he will not remain the leader. If one of his followers makes a mistake, and shows himself incompetent, the leader must consider that it is he who failed. [some thoughts on responsibility]

11. COOPERATION.
The successful leader must understand, and apply the principle of cooperative effort and be able to induce his followers to do the same. Leadership calls for POWER, and power calls for COOPERATION. [some thoughts on cooperation and harmony]

***

From Wess Roberts' 'Leadership Secrets of Attila The Hun' (1985/2009 audio)

1. Loyalty
2. Courage
3. Desire
4. Emotional Stamina
5. Physical Stamina
6. Empathy 
7. Decisiveness
8. Anticipation
9. Sense of Timing
10. Competitiveness
11. Self-Confidence
12. Accountability
13. Responsibility
14. Credibility
15. Tenacity
16. Dependability
17. Stewardship

Thought Tweet #793 Personal Values and Strengths are wonderful ingredients…when they are put to good use.

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

People can lead extremely happy and fulfilled lives when those two personal things are aligned and put to good use. That use does not have to be leadership. Leadership introduces another layer of complexity. To illustrate this, we added a wrapping called Vision - the Leader’s Vivid Vision. If you want to lead then you owe it to your followers to provide the Leader’s Vision. And – that Vivid Vision has to include the delivery of value to real clients. That way, the followers have at least a fighting chance to succeed. You expand that chance for success by making your Vision vivid. And, communicating it with sticky stories….real stories…personal stories. You are able to do that when you know how to apply your Personal Values and your Strengths and you can envision the end point and the generation of value…ie, the business value that must be exchanged if you are to get to that desired end point.

Thought Tweet #792.5 Isn't it a funny fact-of-life: nobody taught us how to do the most-important things...like changing Bad Habits.

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

People taught us reading...

People taught us writing...

People taught us 'rithmetic...

People explained the mistakes we made.

People told us we needed to stop making them.

People told us the good things we needed to do.

Nobody told us how to switch from doing the wrong things to doing the right things.

So...here we are...still trying to fend off Bad Habits.