--- title: The qualities of Australian Leadership which differentiate us globally description: The qualities of leadership distinguish the typical good Australian leader - optimistic, realistic, egalitarian, self-effacing and plain speaking. image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/other%20leadership%20qualities%20word%20cloud.jpeg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/leadership) , ###### [Australian Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australian-leadership) # The qualities of Australian Leadership which differentiate us globally Before the pandemic, three-year [Australian Leadership Project](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/australianleadershipproject?hsLang=en) research concluded that there was a combination of 3 qualities of leadership that distinguished the typical good Australian leader - egalitarianism, self-effacing humour and plain speaking.  Emerging from the pandemic and fear, we know people want optimism and hope.  What do they want of their leaders? Commencing November 2021, we sought to update our research with Australians having endured almost two years of the COVIOD pandemic.  We started with a web survey, "[What's Good Australian Leadership in the 2020s](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/newCFOwebsite)[?](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/aussieleadership)" The Questions we asked were: - What do Australians want of their leaders or bosses? - Who have been the leaders in your life's journey? Who has inspired you? - What's your favourite story of a leader or boss you have worked with? - **What are the qualities of Australian leadership and leaders which differentiate us globally?** - Do you agree that the 2020s demand realistic and infectiously optimistic leadership? [![Please Take Our Australian Leadership Survey](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/9c40856c-d7b6-4f22-8de2-0696fd0a9cee.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/9c40856c-d7b6-4f22-8de2-0696fd0a9cee)   #### What are the qualities of Australian leadership and leaders which differentiate us globally?   In the survey, the qualities agreed upon were plain speaking; realistic, optimistic, egalitarian and self-effacing.   Only plain-speaking got majority agreement in the survey sample.![graph from qualities of australian leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%205.49.58%20pm.png?width=794&height=782&name=Screen%20Shot%202022-10-19%20at%205.49.58%20pm.png) **Word-Cloud for Other Qualities:** It was interesting to see the very negative comments reserved for politics.  Leadership in Australia is often seen as political leadership rather than leaders in other sectors.  ![other leadership qualities word cloud](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hs-fs/hubfs/other%20leadership%20qualities%20word%20cloud.jpeg?width=1024&height=1024&name=other%20leadership%20qualities%20word%20cloud.jpeg)   [![Please Take Our Positive Leadership Survey](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/724536b5-ff18-46f4-8533-f2f78db121b9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/724536b5-ff18-46f4-8533-f2f78db121b9) [![Read more on Infectiously Optimistic Leadership](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/ffd39deb-8f7d-4475-98ca-5ce974726926.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/ffd39deb-8f7d-4475-98ca-5ce974726926) [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/leadership) , ###### [Persistent Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/persistent-optimism) , ###### [Resilience](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/resilience) #### [Chris Penk on the Nature of Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/penk?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/penk?hsLang=en) ###### [Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/leadership) , ###### [Happiness](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/happiness) , ###### [Success](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/success) #### [Binod Atreya: Optimism is a Mindset that Leads to Success in our Lives](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/binod?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/binod?hsLang=en) ###### [migrants](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/migrants) , ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [Leadership](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/leadership) #### [Leadership with Heart: Agostino Giramondo’s Case for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/agostino?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/agostino?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? 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