The Leadership101 Blog says that effective leaders are born with intelligence. They are smart enough to get the job done. They may not be the smartest person on the team, but they will understand the skills required and will surround themselves with those who can fill the gaps. With intelligence as a base, other key leadership skills can be learned:

1. Achieving not just individual results but results within a group.
2. Accountability. An effective leader must have the drive and the willingness to be measured by the results of their team. I call this Taking Personal Ownership.
3. The ability to make decisions that affect themselves and their teams. Making things happen as opposed to letting circumstances dictate results.

The most successful leaders:

1. Learn from other leaders. They choose role models and seek out mentors.
2. Ask for feedback from bosses, peers and subordinates and apply that feedback to get better results.
3. Take control of their own development. They look for training opportunities that will enhance their leadership skills and focus on those that can be used in multiple situations and assignments.
4. Make a deliberate effort to incorporate skills learned in the classroom into the work environment

Of course great skills alone will not make you successful. You also need visibility to senior management, high profile assignments and a proactive career plan.