The age-old debate has always been whether or not you can learn the skills necessary to become a leader or are the skills left to those who are born with them. The short and simple answer is that education, experience, and a willingness to learn are the sources of the talents necessary for effective leadership. If it applies to you, you have the potential to lead.
You can learn a variety of skills necessary for effective leadership, including:
Accountability – As a leader, you must know how to hold people responsible in an ethical and just manner in addition to knowing when to accept responsibility for your own actions.
Assertiveness-Being assertive is knowing when to say no or yes and having the confidence to voice your thoughts based on facts. The way other people see you as a leader is a crucial component of leadership. People will perceive you as a good leader if they trust you and know they can count on you to speak up for them and your causes.
Communication– Effective communication is a talent that a good leader possesses and one that you can master. You can learn how to talk, listen, and when to do both. You may improve your leadership abilities by learning more about the communication process. As a leader, every action, in-action, and non-verbal cues are a form of communication to those that follow. Many assumptions will be made on the things that aren’t said, so as a leader clarity is key in all aspects of communication.
Focused – A strong leader is aware of when and how to complete tasks. They focus on the details and don’t let distractions compromise the quality of their work or slow them down.
Integrity – Despite what it may appear in the media at times, a good leader is able to be genuine and doesn’t attempt to mislead their audience. Integrity is when your actions align with what you communicate.
Open-Mindedness – A competent leader is aware of their ignorance and may even be unsure of the questions to ask due to their inexperience. As a result, they maintain an open mind and pay great attention to the facts as they emerge, changing direction as necessary.
Organized- You can learn to become more organized, even if you’re not naturally that way. Even if you are unable to maintain a clutter-free office, you may learn how to organize all of your work using the right tools. Effective leaders are often juggling multiple priorities, objectives, and deadlines. Therefore, organization is instrumental to success as as leader.
Relationship-Builder – A successful leader is an excellent relationship-builder both at business and personally because they have a solid grasp of oneself, interpersonal relationships, and conflict resolution.
Reliable- A good leader always follows through on their promises. They will be true to their word. But because they aren’t saying yes to things they don’t want to do or don’t need to do, this is also the reason they are not scared to say no.
Results-driven – A smart leader is aware that intentions are meaningless if the outcome does not match your goals. Success will always be better gauged by measuring impact and results.
Self-Awareness – One of the greatest leadership skills is the ability to practice introspection in order to make better decisions. You’re developing into a great leader if you’re eager to learn about who you are, why you are the way you are, and how to grow yourself into the person you want to be while enjoying who you are.
Self-Belief – A strong leader must have self-belief, but it’s also important to have the capacity to have faith in other people. According to behavioral studies, people who lack confidence in themselves also frequently lack confidence in others.
Strategic Thinking – An good leader is able to assess the information at hand and utilize it to influence decisions that will help them achieve the long-term success they desire and, in essence, put them in a winning position for the future.
To become a recognized leader, you must set out on a road of self-education to identify your areas of strength and development so you can concentrate on what you are naturally excellent at doing while you are developing yourself.
Here are a few of my favorite books relating to leadership. (in no particular order)
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- The One Thing You Need to Know About Great Managing, Great Leading, & Sustained Success by Marcus Buckingham
- First Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham
- Servant Leadership: A Journey Into the Nature of Legitimate Power & Greatness by Robert Greenleaf
- Linchpin: Are You Indispensable by Seth Godin
- What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
Do you have a recommended reading on Leadership? I’d love to know, leave it in the comments below!
Catalyst Consulting 