The job of a leader is rarely an easy one. It can be very tiring, causing much stress on a daily basis. Regardless of location, a leader's responsibilities can weigh heavily on a person's shoulders.

Leaders have to be resourceful, often acting without the established courses of action available to those they lead. They must treat their charges well, not abusing their power but also maintaining order and efficiency. This can be very taxing, since there is no one to tell the leader what decision to make or what path to choose; he or she trust trust their own judgment.

Having an unshakable core to support whatever decision they have to make is important for those in the leadership role. Many choices can be tough, and without a steadfast center, leaders would never be able to make peace with a potentially dangerous decision; every time they chose wrong, the guilt would be unbearable.

A good leader can think on his feet and deal with any situation that faces him. Such situations often require judgment calls to be made on the fly, and people who freeze under pressure will most likely crack. Leaders have to be cool under fire and maintain a clear head at all times. And they must never reveal themselves to be unsure or scared, as that will surely destabilize their charges.

Sometimes life takes us into the morally gray area and it's next to impossible to know what the right path is. People who can choose a path and live with whatever the consequences may be make strong leaders. They decide what the best course of action is for themselves as well as the people they lead.

Tyrants are not good leaders; close-minded individuals dead set on their own agenda conduct themselves selfishly and do not lead people well. They must be willing to listen to the opinions of others, and able to acknowledge the possibility that they may be wrong. However, this does not mean a leader should do as others tell him. A leader should lay his path out clearly and be able to defend the choices he makes. Have an open ear, but only take useful counsel.

And, last but not least, a leader needs backbone. They have to be able to stand up for what they believe in, even when facing enormous opposition. Without this quality, one cannot be a leader.

In summary, good leadership skills are about knowing what your choices are, choosing the best option, defending your choice, and believing in yourself even when others don't. That is what makes a good leader.