The document outlines 11 traits that a leader needs to develop, including not desiring the position of leadership, having impeccable character, following one's inner calling, making decisions based on clear reasoning rather than whims, having a higher ideal of service and sacrifice, objectivity and cultivating qualities of calmness and serenity. A leader must be dedicated to the welfare of the people, work hard, love the people, and live by higher values through their own actions rather than just preaching to others.

1. There are different types of leaders -- family heads, corporate honchos, social
activists, political leaders and spiritual masters. All these need a strong spiritual base
as it is the spirit that lends power.
There are 11 traits that a leader needs to develop.
1. He must not want the position.
A leader is first and foremost a servant. Her
focus must be on service. Gandhiji, Abraham Lincoln and Churchill were outstanding leaders because
they served their people. A good leader has no value for worldly things which are temporary. He
pursues higher aims that are more permanent.
2. A leader must be established in higher
values & be able to communicate
his vision to the people.
3. A leader must have impeccable character and be above reproach. He must be
dedicated to the welfare of the people, not be driven by self-interest! When Swami Vivekananda lost
his father and his family was in dire straits he had the choice of serving one family or millions of
families. He chose the latter.
4. A leader follows
his inner calling, svadharma. Everyone is born with a unique
talent. It could be music, engineering or architecture. Identify it and invest your energies in that
field. Most people go for where they believe they can make money and live frustrated lives.
5. A leader must follow the clear
reasoning of his intellect and not get distracted by whims
and fancies of her mind. When there is conflict between the two, intellectual judgement should
prevail.
Disastrous decisions almost always originate in the mind while good decisions are those that are
carefully thought out by the intellect.
6.
Hard work is an essential aspect of a leader. Swami Rama Tirtha said, “Intense work is Rest”.

2. There are three types of actions – niyatam or obligatory actions, kamya or desire-driven actions and
nisidha or prohibited actions. Vedanta exhorts you to perform obligatory duties free from
attachment.
7. A leader must have a higher
ideal. Krishna’s message in the Gita is: Perform action for yajna,
sacrifice. The world is bound by non-yajna actions. Yajna is to work in a spirit of service and sacrifice
for a higher ideal. It is the foundation of a good leader. Look beyond yourself.
8. A
leader loves his people, feels one with them. This evokes a powerful response
from them. Everyone then pitches in and work gets done in a spirit of camaraderie, fun and cheer.
9. Objectivity
or sakshi bhava, witness attitude, is an essential pre-requisite of a
leader. Take the stand of an actor playing his role. You have a role. Play it to the best of your ability.
Only then will you be successful and happy in all situations. You will evolve spiritually.
10. Cultivate
the quality of sattva. All humans have three types of gunas or thought
textures – sattva pure, rajas passion and tamas apathy. Tamas is inertia and lethargy. Rajas is an
agitated state of mind that comes from desires and ego. Sattva is calmness and serenity. A sattvika
person is unselfish, creative and effective. A rajasika person blunders through life while a tamasika
one is steeped in ignorance.
11. Walk
the talk. Lead the way. Live higher values but do not preach. People follow what you
do, not what you say.
Source :Ms. Jaya Row speeches ( an excellent orator on Gita & Vedas.)