My definition of 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮. It's not a role or a title but a behavior that inspires others to be a part of your actions. What’s your definition of leadership? What characteristics of great leaders have you seen or experienced that impressed you? Here are 15 characteristics of great leaders that are critical to their success.

Irish-Anglo Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton’s story of the Endurance Expedition has always intrigued me. Below are 10 insights into the extraordinary leadership traits that enabled him and his crew to survive unimaginable challenges and adversity. Shackleton's unwavering optimism, ability to inspire loyalty, strategic adaptability, resilience, and empathy was the secret to 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒘 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 2 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒊𝒄𝒆.