Leadership is essential for business success. Despite this, many business leaders struggle when it comes to leadership. While some people seem naturally to be better leaders than others, you should know that it is possible to improve when you know what skills you need to work on. So, what are the 5 vital skills for leadership?
1. Communication
Top of the list is communication. In order to be an effective leader, you need to possess excellent communication skills so that you can direct your team and build relationships. People tend to think only of verbal speaking skills, but actually listening skills are just as if not more important. A great leader is one that listens to their team so that they can gather as much information as possible and develop strong bonds, stated Michael Grayum, an Executive Manager served in leadership positions establishing and achieving policy goals and driving positive change through adaptive organizational management, government relations, strategic communications, and forging strong public/private partnerships. Michael Grayum lives in the greater Seattle area and hold a master’s degree in public administration. He has spent over 20 years in political, government, non-profit and corporate environments. From 2012 to 2016 he served as Mayor of DuPont Washington, and he was the Director of Public Affairs for the Puget Sound Partnership in Olympia Washington. Mr. Grayum has the spectrum of management and administrative functions.
2. Trustworthiness
You will never get far as a leader if you do not have a team that trusts you completely. When you are trustworthy, not only will your team buy in to your message and follow your instructions, but they will also be more likely to come to you when they have questions, problems and ideas.
3. Decisiveness
One area of leadership that many struggle with is decisiveness. As the leader of a team, you need to be the one that calls the shots and make the tough decisions even when under pressure. This can become easier with time and you need to understand that you will make mistakes over the course of your career. The key is to view these mistakes as a chance to learn and improve and not let them knock your confidence.
4. Ability to Motivate
A great leader must also know how to motivate their team and keep their own motivation levels high. Hard work is key to success in any field, so as the leader you need to be able to get your team to work to their full potential each day and create a positive, supportive environment. Crucially, this involves knowing how to motivate each individual member of your team as people are often motivated by different factors whether this is positive feedback, perks or collaboration.
5. Influential
Leaders must also be influential so that they can inspire their team, lead by example and clearly communicate the goals of the team. Influence is key to achieving the desired outcomes and for creating positive relationships with your team members. If you feel that you need to develop any of these skills in order to progress your career, there are leadership development services that can prepare you for a role in leadership.
These are 5 of the key skills that are required to excel in leadership. Leadership does not come naturally to all, but the skills can be developed over time and this will help you to rise to leadership roles and could improve your life in many ways.