Which characteristics do you admire the most in leaders?

A good leader needs to inspire in so many ways. Firstly, one wants the assurance that this person excels in their role, that they have a comprehensive knowledge of their particular field / industry which means it will be a pleasure to learn from someone whose skill-sets you admire. They need to demonstrate a level of confidence in their own abilities and a sense of fairness when dealing with the vicissitudes within an institution's work environment.

Secondly, but no less importantly, humanity. At the end of the day, you are dealing with people, all of whom will have their own idiosyncracies, strengths and weaknesses and will, inevitably, have good days and bad days. Praise is vitally important so that milestones don't go unrecognised but, being able to identify when a member of staff is struggling and having the compassion / empathy to be approachable in these circumstances will ensure great loyalty from the people who work for you.