But, what is a leader, really? Here are five characteristics you need to develop before you can be a true leader:

1. A visionary. While managers handle the day-to-day chores of a business, leaders have 20/20 vision and a bird’s-eye view on industry indicators and market trends to see where their businesses are going in the next six months to one year.
 
2. A planner. Leaders are able to take what they see from that bird’s-eye view and translate it into a business plan that reflects market conditions and gets results. By December of this year, they have all of next year on paper and are ready to attack.

3. A collaborator. Leaders know they need help, and they cannot do everything alone. And really good leaders are able to identify, recruit and collaborate with people and other organizations that can add balance and effectiveness to their business.

4. An enabler. Great leaders enable their employees to reach and achieve more by getting them what they need to do their jobs. Leaders will stop at nothing to make sure their employees have everything they need to achieve personal as well as business success.