Good leadership isn’t just about being a particular position in a company or having many years of experience working in a particular position. Good leadership is about acquiring and honing the necessary skills needed for effective leadership. Whether you are a manager, a top-ranking leader or an aspiring leader, you should be concerned with developing the competencies you need to navigate today’s ever-changing business environment. Here are the top 10 leadership skills that make a powerful leader.
1. Effective Planning
Successful companies and organizations have top administrators who have the ability to create both short-term and long-term plans. Good planning usually requires the skills to comprehensively evaluate the business and the company’s position in the market. So to ensure the success of the company, you need to be a good planner.
2. Delegating
As a leader, you are tasked with the job of delegating. Delegating not only makes work easier for you, but it also gives you more time to focus on other important tasks. Most leaders consider delegating to be a sign of weakness, but it is, in fact, a sign of strength and power. Delegation is also a way to show your employees that you have confidence in their abilities, which will result in increased morale in the workplace.
To delegate effectively, take time to identify the skills of each of your employees and assign tasks and duties based on their skill sets. It’s one way to move your company to the next level.
3. Adaptability to Change
Core leadership skills entail adaptability and flexibility to deal with the ever-changing business situation. An effective leader should be able to transform the business in order to meet the prevailing demands and refocus when the business environment and market adjusts.
4. Motivation
Effective leadership skills incorporate motivating and inspiring employees to dedicate their time and resources to ensuring that the organization’s set goals are met. Unlike how many leaders assume, a pay rise won’t motivate your employees to put more effort in the workplace- good leadership does.
There are a number of ways in which you can motivate and inspire your employees. For example, you can give them new responsibilities with the aim to increase their investment in the company or build their self-esteem through awards and recognition. This way, you can encourage productivity and enthusiasm.
5. Good Communication
Good leaders have one thing in common- good communication skills. They are able to clearly communicate with their employees through various forms of communications including one-on-one, full-staff, team meetings and departmental, as well as via the phone, messages, email, and social media. And because an important part of communication involves listening, it’s crucial to establish a free flow of communication between yourself and your employees and make yourself regularly available to discuss their issues and concerns. This way, you will not only make them feel worthy, but it will also build their self-esteem knowing that you are there for them regardless of the situation.
6. Commitment
To be a good leader, you must follow through with what you agreed to do. In other words, you must be fully committed to the job, which means working extra hours to finish assignments, fulfilling your promises to employees, and doing everything you can to ensure that the business is in a better place than it was before. Your employees will certainly notice your commitment and dedication and strive to follow your example.
7. High Integrity and Honesty
Effective leadership skills also incorporate high integrity and honesty. Good leaders are known to “walk their talk,” meaning that they are truthful, transparent, and honest in everything they do. They absolutely leave no room for doubt.
8. Ability to Solve Problems and Deal with Issues Accordingly
Typically, leaders are trained to analyze and solve any issues facing the organization accordingly. They logically think through the situations and find ways to solve them. They are strong enough to embrace failures and effectively manage setbacks. So as a leader, you will be faced with numerous challenges, but how you handle such situations will determine how fast and better your company will bounce back to its normal situation.
9. Innovation
The ability to innovate is a crucial skill for every competent leader. As a leader, you must be able to innovate in a bid to enhance your company’s success. By embracing innovation, you implement new creative ideas, create dynamic products/services, or even improve your existing products/service, which will increase the likelihood of the business succeeding. Innovation is also a great way to eliminate boredom and monotony in employees.
10. Stay Positive, even in the most challenging situations
Businesses face numerous challenges but as a leader, staying positive will keep your employees motivated. When things get tough in the workplace, try to exhibit a positive attitude by creating a happy and relaxed atmosphere. This will further motivate the employees to work hard and attain the set target.
References:
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyaprive/2012/12/19/top-10-qualities-that-make-a-great-leader/#71eae4ca7754
• http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-impressive-characteristics-great-leaders-have.html
• https://www.thebalance.com/top-leadership-skills-2063782
• https://chiefexecutive.net/top-10-skills-needed-for-effective-leadership/
• https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/top-10-skills-every-great-leader-needs-to-succeed.html
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201404/the-top-10-leadership-competencies