Successful leaders are the driving force behind an organization. It’s their job to coach their team of employees towards individual success and that of the company. Mortgage branch managers are required to be more than just managers. They’re strong leaders with the duty of leading their team by example while navigating pitfalls. They know how to rally their employees and encourage them to work hard. The most effective leaders share some common qualities. Here are 7 key leadership qualities of great managers:

1. Confident

In order to lead others, you need to have confidence in yourself that others can sense. Great teachers and managers are self-assured and believe in their own abilities. Not only does this quality cause their team to respect them, but it also encourages employees to be confident in their own abilities and work. Confidence also allows people to trust you more easily. The best leaders are the ones who are willing to take risks and push themselves to their limits.

2. Focused

To be a great employee, you need to have a focused mindset. To be an exceptional leader, you need the ability to focus intently on the goals of your team and those of your branch. A great leader needs to have the ability to focus on the important tasks at hand. They need to be able to look past the more minor details and avoid trivial distractions to focus on the end goals. When a manager is driven and focused, they can coach their employees to have the same level of concentration.

3. Standards

A great leader not only holds their employees to high standards, but holds themselves to high standards as well. They lead by example, conveying the kind of work they expect from their employees through their actions. When you demonstrate the standard of service you provide, your employees will have the examples they need to mirror these qualities.

4. Organized

Many great leaders have excelled because of their strong organizational habits. Unorganized people typically aren’t going to make it in leadership positions where they are juggling not only their own tasks, but keeping track of their team’s as well. Managers who are organized are able to access information when needed, keep track of performance numbers, and keep their employees accountable. Otherwise, the entire team suffers from their leader’s disorganization.

5. Optimistic

Optimism is a coveted quality in all employees, and especially in a manager. These kinds of leaders remain positive for the team, even in the face of difficulty. They work at keeping morale for the entire business, and they’re optimistic about their employees. They trust that the people they’ve hired will perform to the best of their abilities, and they encourage them along the way. Instead of micromanaging, this kind of leader keeps a positive outlook on their employees and gives them space to work independently. Successful leaders are positive and driven towards the success they want for their team. It’s impossible to reach success or inspire it in others if you have a defeatist mindset.

6. Accountable

Branch managers want their employees to be accountable for their individual progress and success; but if they expect this from their team, they need to model it in their own accountability as well. Great leaders are able to manage themselves well, first and foremost. Only then can they manage their team and lead them towards achievement. At the same time, leaders know that taking responsibility for their own mistakes is essential in gaining respect. Not only that, but they expect their team to do the same. They can balance being understanding of their employees while also encouraging them to be accountable for their actions.

7. Emotionally Intelligent

One often undervalued quality of both employees and managers is emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is the quality of being aware of your own emotions and those of others. It also refers to being in control of and expressing your emotions. Empathy is a large part of having an emotional intelligence. Although normally seen as a soft skill, this quality is essential to working successfully in the mortgage industry. In a field where you’re working with people everyday, having a high EQ allows you to maintain and strengthen professional relationships. When managers have a high EQ, they’re able to relate to their employees better and model this kind of empathy directly. This encourages employees to improve their own EQ and become more successful with their client relationships.

Great leaders make a strong impression on their team. They take risks, and own their mistakes, inspiring their team to do the same. By modeling the willpower and perseverance required to reach success while still being understanding, they have the ability to surpass the role of manager and act as powerful leaders for their team.