The qualities that successful leaders posses are a matter of much discussion but according to a business consultant, leadership speaker and trainer for Fortune 100 companies, five modest qualities are fundamental.

Like all businesses, landscape companies rely on effective leadership to thrive. And it's not just the people at the top who lead. Every project can have multiple levels of leadership down to the seasoned worker teaching the new hire, or even the new hire leading by example by demonstrating a good work ethic.

But what does it take to be a good leader? Is it an innate quality or can anyone become one with proper training and effort?

Barry Banther, a business consultant, leadership speaker and trainer for Fortune 100 companies advises that the most effective leaders must earn the right to be followed. To that end, he offers five qualities that he believes the best leaders have; qualities that upon consideration do not have to be innate but can be learned and practiced by everyone in an organization.

Simply put, they are:

• Being open to others
• Investing time in others
• Listening to others
• Offering encouragement to others
• Expressing appreciation for others' abilities