ABSTRACT
Leadership effectiveness is achieved through layers of concepts that weave together to create the ultimate leader. Three other concepts also come into play; virtues, attributes and competencies. The understanding of these concepts can help the emerging leader to continue to reflect on their success and hone effective leadership skills. Courage on the part of the effective leader is also related to the concepts of innovation and creativity. Risk-taking is a necessary component of change and with highly innovative solutions, the risk may be higher. Leaders that are going to be effective change agents need to be courageous. Leaders can acquire wisdom by taking every experience whether it is positive or negative and reflect on the successes as well as what could have been done differently. Traditional virtues hinge off the cardinal virtues and are those that are passed on traditionally from person to person, society to society, family to family and generation to generation. These include hope, faith and charity.
