Which characteristics do you admire the most in leaders?

I admire the most in leaders their capability to constantly cope with the stress, pressure and other's expectations. Regardless of many benefits of that position, it is great responsability. Also, their capacity and competence to bring difficult decisions that are sometimes not very well received is realy something to respect for.

It was always fascinating to me how leader can manage to tell their workers/co-workers/followers what they need to do in a way that isn't offensive or just to show off his leadership. Yet, they listen to him/her and do what he/she told them to do. That is also characteristic I truly admire and applaud because it is more difficult to mantain the followers than just gain them.