10 Ways to Develop Leadership Skills
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| 10 Ways to Develop Leadership Skills |
The first thing we will look at are personal attributes. This is a combination of knowledge, expertise, and competence contained in the leader's attitude and behaviour. These attributes are essential for successful leadership in companies of all sizes and industries, public and commercial. The following are the fundamental personal characteristics:
1. Behaving ethically
Learning about the ethical issues and concerns that affect your business sector; taking a balanced, open-minded approach to other people's ethical concerns; considering the ethical issues and implications of all personal actions and organizational activity; raising and discussing ethical issues before proposing or agreeing to decisions; resisting pressures from the organization or its partners to achieve goals through unethical means
2. Thinking Strategically
Learning and understanding how the organization's various functions, physical divisions, and layers should work together: understanding the complexities of, and changes occurring in, the external environment and considering how the organization can best respond to these; understanding the organization's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats it faces; and understanding how the strategic objectives are influenced by all current and future events.
3. Supporting Corporate Goals
Helping to build and express a vision that people at all levels can understand and support; assisting others in understanding and contributing to the strategic objectives; and providing visible personal support to the organization's strategic direction and particular goals.
4. Communicating Effectively
Responding to messages and signals from the internal and external environments; making effective use of communication channels from and to all levels within the organization; actively encouraging the exchange of information within the organization, as well as among suppliers, customers, and partners; carefully and thoughtfully listening to others, including those with opposing views; selecting personal communication styles that are appropriate to the various situations
5. Making Decisions
Developing a consistent approach to information analysis; relying on personal experience and expertise to identify present and prospective issues; considering a variety of alternatives before picking the final one; ensuring that the chosen conclusion is viable, attainable, and cheap; Before authorizing implementation, assess the effect of the decision on all stakeholders at all levels.
6. Developing Effective Teams
Appreciating others' contributions at all organizational levels; ensuring that individuals and teams are kept informed of plans, developments, and issues that will affect them; ensuring that individual and team development schemes are given appropriate priority; and providing personal support for the implementation and maintenance of development activities for individuals and teams at all levels.
7. Behaving assertively
Understanding and responding to personal roles and responsibilities; taking the initiative in initiating action and decision-making; accepting personal responsibility for decisions and actions; being adequately prepared for participation in activities and events; being confident and professional in dealing with change and challenges; refusing unreasonable demands; defending and protecting individuals and teams from unfair or discriminatory actions; remaining professional in.
8. Concentrating on Results
Contributing to the establishment of an organisational culture that demands high standards and levels of performance; focusing on objectives and planned outcomes at all times; dealing with issues and problems as they arise; planning and scheduling personal work and the work of others in ways that make best use of available resources; delegating appropriately; providing personal attention to critical issues and events.
9. Managing Yourself
Reflecting on personal performance and improvement on a frequent basis; pro-actively seeking feedback on personal performance; modifying personal behaviour in response to criticism obtained; and being accountable for your own personal development requirements.
10. Presenting a Positive Image
Adopting a leadership role in initiating action and decision-making; acting professionally at all times; being open-minded and responsive to the needs of others; visibly working toward personal and career development goals; adopting an ethical approach to all personal and organizational activity; being supportive of colleagues; and demonstrating fairness and integrity at all times.
Summary
These fundamental characteristics are many and difficult to sustain consistently, yet they are required of and expected of our business leaders. It makes no difference the size of the organization or the business sector, whether public or private. Leaders in all organizations should be role models for others, visible supporters of high professional and ethical standards, leaders of whom people in their organizations may be proud, and leaders of whom rivals are jealous.
Many of these attributes do not come naturally to our leaders. They must be learned, can be learned, and then continually developed and improved. Business leaders will be more effective and successful if these personal characteristics are present and shown in their behavior and activities.