The 8 Traits of Great Leaders

I’ve been fortunate to work with and interview hundreds of business owners, operators, syndicators, and investors over the years. Leadership continually comes up as one of the most important skill sets to running a successful business.

Deals come and go. Markets rise and fall. But the people leading the charge make all the difference. When I evaluate partnerships, deals, or even my own business decisions, I keep coming back to these 8 traits. The great leaders live them daily:

Consistency

The best leaders are steady. They don’t ride the emotional rollercoaster. They don’t panic when rates move, when deals fall through, or when a contractor goes sideways. Their team knows who’s showing up every single day. Consistency builds trust. And trust builds great organizations. There is no such thing as overnight success. It’s the consistent grind behind the scenes that makes the difference.

Humility

The great ones never think they’ve got it all figured out. They ask questions. They seek counsel. They listen to people who challenge them. They hire people smarter than them.

Humble leaders create an environment where growth happens — for themselves and everyone around them.

Ethics

Character shows up when no one is watching. Do they honor their word? Do they take care of investors even when it costs them? Do they make decisions that align with long-term trust rather than short-term profit? Ethics isn’t a slogan. It’s how they operate every day.

Take Ownership

When things go wrong — and they will — great leaders look in the mirror first. They don’t blame interest rates, market cycles, or their team. They ask: "What could I have done differently?" "Where did I fall short?" "How do we fix this? Taking ownership can be challenging, especially when you feel like it’s not your fault – Afterall, someone else screwed up.

Curiosity

Markets evolve. Technology shifts. Capital moves. The best leaders stay curious. They read. They ask questions. They explore new ideas. They’re never “done” learning.

Curiosity keeps leaders sharp while others get stagnant. Learning is growing. Asking questions creates results.

Purpose Driven

Money is great. But it’s never the real reason – at least in the long run. Great leaders are building for something bigger — their families, their teams, their investors, their community, their legacy. Purpose keeps them grounded and motivated when things get tough. Without purpose, it’s easy to chase shiny objects and make short-term decisions that destroy long-term wealth.

Brutally Honest

They speak the truth - Always. They’re honest with their team, with their partners, and with themselves. They don’t sugarcoat. They don’t hide behind half-truths or spin the story to make themselves the victim. Brutal honesty builds real trust — and real solutions.

Confidence

Confidence isn’t given. It’s earned through discipline. Great leaders build their confidence by doing what they say they’ll do, day after day. They follow through. They show up early. They make the calls. They have the tough conversations.

Confidence comes from disciplined action repeated over time.

Leadership Is Simple. But Not Easy.

Every leadership book in the world will give you frameworks and theories. At the end of the day, leadership is about who you are, not what you know. These 8 traits separate the ones who build great businesses, great investments, and great teams — from the ones who flame out. The world doesn’t need more bad leaders. We need more consistent, humble, ethical, accountable, curious, purpose-driven, brutally honest, and confident ones.

Todd Dexheimer
Endurus Capital