"Initiative. Effective leaders are proactive. They make choices and take action that leads to change instead of just reacting to events or waiting for things to happen."
The Great Man theory of leadership assumes that leaders are born, and not made. In some ways I can agree with that, because there are those people out there that just possess those qualities and utilize them starting at a young age. They already have this way about them that says they are destined for greatness. That doesn't mean that people that don't immediately show those leadership qualities will be bad leaders.
I also believe that some traits can be learned and practiced to make you become a better leader. Everyday we are learning and growing and continue to improve ourselves. We learn from our mistakes and continue our interaction with others and learn from one another.
"Tenacity. Leaders are better at overcoming obstacles than non leaders. They have the 'capacity to work with distant objects in view' and have a 'degree of strength of will or perseverance.'"
Some people may have to work harder at other traits, while it comes easily to others.
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with great talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence, determination alone are omnipotent."