LEADERSHIP SKILLS

What Are Leadership Skills, and Why Are They Important?

Learn what leadership skills are with examples, why they are important, who needs
them, and how you can further develop these essential skills.

What are leadership skills?

Leadership skills are the strengths and abilities individuals demonstrate that help to oversee
processes, guide initiatives and steer their employees toward the achievement of goals.

Leadership skills are an essential component in positioning executives to make thoughtful

decisions about their organization's mission and goals, and properly allocate resources to
achieve those directives. Valuable leadership skills include the ability to delegate, inspire and
communicate effectively. Other leadership traits include honesty, confidence, commitment
and creativity.

In IT, executives are often required to be jacks-of-all-trades. In addition to being able to plan
strategically, their leadership skills must also be directed toward risk management, disaster
recovery, compliance and other aspects of data governance.

What is meant by leadership skills?

Leadership skills include the abilities or strengths shown by people in management roles that
aid in guiding and encouraging a group of people and their team toward achieving a common
goal or set of goals. These skill sets include communication, negotiation, conflict resolution,
decision-making, and more.

15 Leadership Skills that make a good Leader

To be an effective leader, a person should possess certain skills that can steer and motivate
the team members toward success.

The following list examines 15 important leadership skills:

1. Open communication. A good leader keeps an open line of communication with

team members and can succinctly explain organizational goals and tasks using
different types of communication channels, such as one-on-one sessions, email, video,
chat, phone calls and social media. An effective leader also shares clear messages and
makes complex ideas easy to understand for everyone.

2. Empathy. Empathetic leadership focuses on identifying with others and

understanding their perspective. Leaders who show empathy are successful because
 they can better understand how the employees feel about their work environment.
This enables the leaders to bring positive changes to the workforce.

3. Strategic thinking. Leaders need strategic and critical thinking skills, as they are
tasked with challenging decision-making. A strong leader makes well-researched and
objectively scrutinized decisions that can lead an organization toward achieving its
goals.

4. Creativity. A creative leader can brainstorm new ideas and inspire others toward
creativity and innovation. For example, a successful leader will always recognize and
reward employees for their creative input.

5. Positivity. A great leader brings positivity into the work environment, which in turn
uplifts the employees and encourages them to perform better. Positivity can be
cultivated by showing care, respect, diplomacy and empathy toward the team.

6. Flexibility. The best leaders get out of their comfort zones and quickly adapt to
changing work conditions. They wear multiple hats and can problem solve and
improvise on the fly. A successful leader also promotes employee engagement and is
willing to accept constructive feedback from the team.

7. Conflict resolution. A great leader not only knows how to avoid conflicts in the
workplace but can also resolve them in an efficient and timely manner. While
resolving conflicts, the leader stays level-headed and decides analytically.

8. Time management. This is an essential skill for leaders, as they need to delegate
tasks, prioritize commitments, set attainable goals and multitask. Successful leaders
practice time management skills by setting SMART goals for themselves and their
team members.

9. Reliability. A strong leader is dependable and one that people can count on for
fulfilling commitments and meeting deadlines. This encourages the team to appreciate
the leader's decisions and follow in their footsteps.

10. Mentorship. Great leaders are always ready to mentor and teach to bring out the best
in their employees. They put in a lot of effort to make the team successful by using
positive reinforcement, clarity, motivation and by rewarding achievements.

11. Recognizing potential. Great leaders have a keen eye for recognizing potential talent
and competencies in the workplace. They also don't shy away from acknowledging
the abilities and achievements of their employees.

12. Responsibility. The success and failure of a team ride on the shoulders of a leader.
Therefore, leaders should be accountable for their actions and willing to take the
blame when mishaps happen. Great leaders take responsibility and devise strategies
for improvement instead of pointing fingers and blaming others.

13. Organization. Leadership positions depend heavily on organizational skills. A

successful leader can handle a variety of different projects, spend ample time on each,
prioritize and ensure that all project deadlines are met.
 14. Delegation. Sometimes, it's difficult for leaders to let go of the projects they're
passionate about. However, a great leader knows the strengths and key skills of each
employee and delegates accordingly based on the project requirements. This also
helps with relationship building within the team as employees feel valued, respected
and trusted.

15. Feedback. Effective leaders never miss an opportunity to provide constructive

feedback to team members regarding their performance. Without feedback, employees
can't gauge where they stand and which areas they need to improve on.

Examples of leadership skills

Take a detailed look at some popular leadership qualities companies may value and look for
in a candidate.

Communication
When you work in a leadership position, you must be able to clearly explain everything from
expectations to goals and tasks. It is also important to establish open communication between
yourself and your team members. Not only does creating an environment of open
communication promote cohesiveness as a team, but it often encourages an atmosphere of
transparency. Excellent communication considers not only what is being communicated, but
how it is being communicated.
As an effective communicator, you do more than just clearly verbalize expectations. You also
incorporate active listening, nonverbal communication, presentation skills, and engaging
public speaking.

Negotiation
Negotiation involves two or more parties engaging in a conversation to find a solution that is
acceptable to all parties. As a result, you and the person you are negotiating with may reach a
formal agreement, such as a contract or a less formal verbal agreement. When used as a
leadership skill, negotiation can foster a sense of fairness and equality, allowing all parties to
be heard. Employees and coworkers may be more likely to feel understood when conflicts are
handled with negotiation.
Effective negotiation involves understanding the interests of all involved parties and working
to reach a solution that satisfies each one.

Conflict resolution
Compelling leaders understand how to avoid disputes and have the ability to resolve them
quickly. Ideally, as a good leader, you should be able to maintain your composure and make
thoughtful decisions when handling disagreements. A great example of conflict resolution is a
human resources (HR) representative actively listening while working to help a manager and
their subordinate settle conflict.

Adaptability
As an adaptable leader, you adjust your behaviour in response to situational changes. You are
resilient when things don't go as expected and recover quickly from setbacks by viewing
them as an opportunity to grow. Showing adaptability in leadership involves being flexible
and adjusting to changing conditions and environments.
Critical thinking
Analyzing information to fully comprehend an issue or topic is the act of critical thinking.
The steps of the critical thinking process often entail gathering facts and data, posing
deliberate queries, and examining potential answers. For instance, if you work in HR and
must settle a dispute between two coworkers, using critical thinking skills can be helpful in
determining the nature of the conflict and the appropriate course of action. Critical thinking is
an important component of decision-making.

Decision-making
Effective leaders make decisions that benefit themselves, their team members, clients,
stakeholders, and organizations. Using critical thinking skills in decision-making allows you
as a leader to identify problems and develop solutions advantageous to your business and
your employees. Decision-making by leaders must always be fair and objective and involve
the use of appropriate language when communicating.

Problem-solving
Effective problem solvers in leadership have the ability to foresee issues in the workplace,
define the problem, identify their causes, develop a plan to remedy the problem, and learn
from the problem to avoid future issues. Problem-solving requires strong communication
skills and respect for all parties involved. Viewing and presenting issues as opportunities can
benefit leaders and staff alike. An example of this would be a decline in social media
engagement viewed as an opportunity to increase social media presence rather than a
problem.

Relationship building
The general nature of leadership roles revolves around people. Without understanding the
people they are guiding, leaders cannot effectively lead. The ability to forge bonds and
establish communities is necessary for an effective leader. A study conducted on relationships
in the workplace by Olivet University shows that employees tend to be happier in their
workplace when they have a degree of nonwork relationship with their superiors.

Time management
Time management involves planning and regulating how much time to devote to different
tasks. Leaders who manage time effectively may accomplish more in less time, feel less
stressed, and succeed in their careers. Proper time management by leadership members
affords leaders more time to invest in their team.

Reliability and trust

Trust is the cornerstone of a successful organization. Trust, or belief in another person's skills,
integrity, and character, is frequently thought of as something built upon in personal
relationships.
Leadership develops best through reliability. Leaders must ensure their words and deeds are
consistent if they want to be trusted. If those you lead cannot trust you to keep your word,
they will lose faith in you rapidly.

Creativity
A creative mindset is open, not closed or rigid, and produces ideas and solutions that are both
significant and effective. By encouraging a team of people to solve problems creatively,
leaders provide the opportunity to develop goods and services that set the team apart from
rivals, creating a competitive advantage. Creative leaders also foster an innovative culture by
encouraging teams to showcase ingenuity as a unit.

Strategic approach
Leaders must think strategically and critically when making difficult decisions. Effective
leadership involves making well-considered and critically-analysed decisions to lead teams to
success. Leaders who are successful will think before they act, or in other words, have a
strategic plan before taking action. The time it takes to devise a strategy depends on the
problem or decision. A good leader devotes the necessary time to strategy development.

Self-awareness
Self-awareness in leadership involves understanding your own personality, behaviours, and
motivations and then considering how these traits and qualities influence your leadership
skills. Self-reflection can be a powerful tool all on its own. Self-awareness and reflection can
help you realize what you offer to your job as a leader and where you need improvement.
Self-awareness entails identifying where you excel and where you should grow—and when
your leadership excels, your company's productivity tends to follow.

Who needs leadership skills?

Whether a student, teacher, project manager, or CEO, anyone in a role that involves influence
over others and decision-making can benefit from strong leadership skills. These skills can be
especially helpful for early-career professionals, newly promoted leaders, and start-up
leaders. Leadership skills are essential in roles that don’t even involve leading others as well.
These are skills that also help you to exude confidence and may be beneficial in progressing
your career into leadership positions.

What makes an effective leader?

While possessing leadership skills can make a leader effective, certain workplace skills or
qualities also lend to effectiveness. Effective leaders are respectful, empathetic, patient,
motivational, and willing to be held accountable.
When you make your team feel respected, cared for, and motivated, you are more likely to be
successful in leading your team.

How can you become an effective leader?

Leadership is a learned behaviour that comes with many attributes. According to a study
conducted by the Centre for Creative Leadership, between 38% and more than 50% of new
leaders fail within the first 18 months.
The following leadership qualities can inspire anyone to become a better leader:

Good values: To be an effective leader, one should be honest and committed to their
leadership role and always remember that their team reflects the values they uphold. A good
leader shows respect for everyone and their opinions.

Vision: One can't be an effective leader without having a strong vision for current and future
growth because a big part of a leader's job is to connect a group of people through a shared
vision. A successful leader isn't hesitant about bringing change and pushing the boundaries of
what is achievable through their intellect.

Creativity: Thinking outside the box is imperative for successful leaders because it enables
them to turn challenges into opportunities. Leadership and creativity work together to
produce a dynamic workspace that's rife with innovative ideas and problem-solving
techniques. This can provide any organization with an edge over the competition.

Confidence with humility: Great vision alone can't achieve results if the leader doesn't have
the confidence to act. Gaining leadership confidence is a gradual process. For instance,
people looking to become effective leaders can start by listing five points they admire about
themselves every day to increase their level of self-appreciation and self-awareness. Along
with confidence, an effective leader should identify good traits in others and focus on the end
goal rather than on themselves as the conduit of success.

Interpersonal skills: Active listening and soft skills go a long way in a leader's journey
toward success. Along with being a good listener, a leader should foster a workspace that
promotes open communication, delegation of tasks and prompt conflict resolution. Through a
leader's interpersonal skills, entire teams and projects can work collectively and share the
same vision toward the achievement of goals.

Prioritizes continuing education: To stay on top of current industry innovations, successful

leaders should keep learning new skills. A great leader not only takes part in continuing
education to improve their career path but also evaluates their leadership qualities for areas of
improvement. For example, a leader looking to improve their communication skills can
pursue a leadership degree that focuses on communication.

Developing followers: A successful leader is followed by others. By empowering team

members with information, tools, skills and professional development opportunities, a leader
can successfully help employees reach their career goals. Empathy and concern can also earn
leaders their team members' trust.

How to develop Leadership Skills

To succeed as a leader, it’s essential to commit to continued learning and plan personal
growth and development. Becoming an effective leader involves gaining leadership skills and
fine-tuning key workplace skills. You can accomplish these goals by receiving coaching or
mentoring, gaining experience, taking courses, and enrolling in leadership certificate
programs.
Coaching and mentoring
Leadership coaches work with leaders to help optimize their abilities and effectively manage
a team. Leadership coaches and mentors act as supportive advisors who help those being
coached better their workplace relationships and performance on the job.
Mentorship is more of a collaborative relationship between a successful leader and a leader in
training. Mentor/mentee relationships are often more personal and can offer accountability
and help the mentee make beneficial connections, whereby the mentor acts as an advisor.

Experience
Leadership experience can come in many forms. From playing on sports teams to
participating in social groups and volunteering, you can gain experience in leadership in
almost any aspect of life. While these experiences may not directly relate to your career, the
skills gained from them can last a lifetime.

Courses and training

For a more formal method of gaining leadership skills, enrol in training courses. This is a
highly effective way to develop new abilities, enhance existing ones, and establish the
foundation for a successful career in leadership.

Certification
In addition to courses and training, it is also an option to pursue leadership certifications.
Through these programs, you can learn valuable leadership skills and earn a credential for
your résumé to increase job prospects in your field.

Real-world examples of Leaders with valuable Leadership Skills

When thinking about great business leaders, some names may pop up -- Steve Jobs, Indra
Nooyi, Bill Gates -- and one might wonder how they became successful. While most people
aren't born leaders, they can certainly develop the skills to become one.
The following are real-world examples of famous leaders and their leadership styles:

Indra Nooyi, former Chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo

Indra Nooyi is a business visionary leader. As a successful leader, she practices the Five Cs of
good leadership -- clear, cohesive, complete, concise and concrete. She strongly believes that
other leadership traits can be overshadowed if one doesn't possess strong communication
skills. To follow this mantra, Indra herself pursued formal training to hone her
communication skills. She also used to maintain a blog at Pepsi where she regularly
communicated to her employees via posts. This proves that communication is extremely
valuable to her and is one of the key ingredients behind her success.

"Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to
follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader."
--Indra Nooyi

Bill Gates, Co-Founder of Microsoft

Bill Gates is a business tycoon, software developer, investor and co-founder of Microsoft. He
believes that success doesn't happen overnight and practices the philosophy of working hard.
His passion and vision for programming led to the creation of BASIC programming
language, MS-DOS for IBM and finally the launch of Microsoft. He's a transformational
leader who is constantly evolving and encourages the same creativity from his subordinates.
His long-term vision for success is always inspired by his passion for programming.

"As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others."
--Bill Gates

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc.

Tim Cook is a business executive, leader, engineer and the current CEO of Apple. He follows
a democratic leadership style that enables everyone in the workforce to contribute to the
success of the organization. The secret to his success lies in open communication,
transparency and sharing, which has made the Apple market shares soar under his leadership.

"Work takes on new meaning when you feel you are pointed in the right direction."
--Tim Cook

Mary Barra, Chair and CEO of General Motors

Mary Barra is a successful entrepreneur who became the first female leader of a popular
automaker in the U.S. when she was named the chair and CEO of General Motors in 2014.
Barra's leadership style enables empowerment for her employees and gives credit where it's
due. Among her outstanding leadership qualities is her ability to navigate through different
challenges and crises, such as the Switchgate crisis -- an ignition switch malfunction in GM
cars that cost more than 100 lives.

"It's important to surround yourself with people who will challenge you and tell you when
and why you are wrong."
--Mary Barra

Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company

Howard Schultz transformed Starbucks into a well-known and reputable brand across the
world. He practices the transformational style of leadership by encouraging his employees to
both grow as individuals and be a part of a collective team that works toward achieving
objectives. Respect, trust and honesty are his biggest attributes and he ensures that everyone
in the company simulates these traits as well.

"Business leaders cannot be bystanders."

--Howard Schultz

Final Takeaway

Creativity and innovation are the cornerstones of effective leadership. Learn the importance
of innovative leadership in the workplace and the top qualities that innovative leaders
possess.