Cyber Monday Sale! 50% Off All Access

How to Become an Inspirational Leader (Infographic) Successful leaders are often whip smart and charismatic, sure. But what they need more than anything else is emotional intelligence.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

To be a good leader, you need to have quick wit. But to be a great leader capable of motivating individuals to work toward a common goal, you need a whole lot more than smarts -- you need emotional intelligence.

Great leaders are able to adeptly maintain relationships, read people's body language, pick up on social cues and recognize people's struggles and hardships, according to the infographic compiled below by Business Management Degrees, a site that offers comparative information on business management programs.

Related: The Secret to Keeping Young, Ambitious Talent? Let Them Go.

In addition to breaking down various categories of emotional intelligence, the infographic also describes half a dozen types of leadership styles, including each style's strength and weakness. For example, "authoritative leaders," or those who rally their employees with their enthusiasm, tend do well at motivating staff to reach a particular goal, but they also tend not to be as good at promoting responsibility.

Have a look at the infographic to see what sort of leader you already are and what sort of leader you aspire to be. If you aren't already the leader you want to be, take some time reflect inward. Developing your own self-awareness and emotional intelligence will undoubtedly give you the tools to more effectively motivate your team.

Click to Enlarge+
How to Become an Inspirational Leader (Infographic)

Related: For This Entrepreneur, Helping Women Around the World Find Their Voice Meant Finding Her Own

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

'Something Previously Impossible': New AI Makes 3D Worlds Out of a Single Image

The new technology allows viewers to explore two-dimensional images in 3D.

Business News

'Pre-Boarding Scam': Customers Furious at Southwest Airlines After 20 Passengers Ask For Wheelchair Assistance to Board

A viral tweet is slamming the airline's wheelchair policy for boarding and disembarking.

Business News

'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why

The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.

Fundraising

They Turned Down an Early Pay Day to Maintain Control of Their Business. And Then Went on to Raise $190 Million.

Jason Yeh, co-founder and General Partner of Patron, explains the early-stage venture firm's creation and future outlook.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.