Sharpening Leadership Skills

Leadership is seen as the most critical competency for businesses now and in the next decade, according to a recent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) survey. However, this competency – which they define as “the ability to direct and contribute to initiatives and processes within the organisation” – is something many entrepreneurs lack.

Some key focus areas to hone your Leadership competency:

Work on your soft skills. Effective leaders are expert communicators and listeners. They’re self-confident and self-aware.

Develop the right mindset. Leaders have can-do attitudes. They’re focused on the success of all, and they give credit where it’s due. Become a team playere!

Earn respect from team members. Lead by example, be seen to constantly strive to learn and be better.

Learn from leaders who inspire you. A mentor is a huge asset but until you find the right one, learn by listening to and asking questions of those around you.

Be adaptable in the face of change. Great leaders can change course quickly and stay cool, calm and collected when facing uncertainty and adversity. This skillset doesn’t happen overnight! It takes a lot of practice, so accept the challenges that come along, and debrief with yourself often to learn and improve for the next time.

Lift up your co-workers. Be the person who inspires those around you to do great work. Give compliments and share interesting articles that might fire up your team members.

Be a strategic thinker and solve problems. Companies and people turn to leaders to implement change for the better. Hone your strategic mind and train yourself to seek solutions when faced with problems.

Learn to delegate. This is where many entrepreneurs fall down. Facilitate the success of others instead of micromanaging tasks, and you’ll grow in leaps and bounds as a leader.

Have humility. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Take the blame where you deserve it and recognise that you aren’t and will never be 100% perfect. These qualities make a leader trustworthy and likeable.

Are you constantly seeking to hone your Leadership skills?

Adapted from an article by Lisa Quast, Forbes.com