Being a true leader means you fully understand and accept your strengths and weaknesses. You capitalize on your strengths while continuously working on how to overcome weaknesses that are getting in the way of leading your team. Without humility, one can be their worst enemy.
And, if you want to take your organization to the next level then there are some must-have skills you will want to fully embrace. These skills are often overlooked as not being vital to success because they may not be a direct influence; however, without them, your team will only go so far.
Harnessing down on your soft skills, values, and emotional intelligence is essential to having a team that respects you and produces without hesitation. It is well-known professionals are willing to stay in a work environment where they feel valued over one that might pay a higher salary.
What skills do you need as a leader to keep your team motivated?
Here Are 7 Skills You Will Want To Have In Your Back Pocket At All Times:
1.Strong Communication Skills
Think about the last time you were in a conversation with a colleague. Were you engaged and excited, or bored and dissatisfied? Now, think about the times when you've been in a conversation with someone who has strong communication skills. How did you feel then?
Most likely, you felt engaged, positively influenced, and interested. That's because strong communication skills are key to having successful conversations and impacting those around us.
If you want to be a better communicator, there are a few things you can do. First, focus on being an active listener. Second, be confident and calm in your demeanor. Third, cut the small talk and add value.
2.Active Listening
Active listening means more than just passively hearing what someone is saying. It requires you to process the meaning behind their words and respond appropriately. It allows you to focus on understanding the speaker's message, rather than thinking about what you're going to say next.
To practice active listening, try repeating back what the other person has said or asking discovery questions. Discovery questions allow you to assess and gain further insight as opposed to assuming what you heard. We each can interpret what we hear very differently than what may have been intended by the speaker.
The more you are able to actively listen, the easier it is to build rapport with colleagues, resolve conflict, and create a more positive work environment. Listening is essential to forming a united alignment.
Did you know nonverbal communication accounts for 93% of the conversation being exchanged amongst two or more people?
3.Having Integrity
When it comes to leading your team or organization you will want to strive to have integrity. Your word is your bond. By following through on your commitments, you'll gain the respect of those around you. Remember, your reputation is everything in the business world and integrity is key to upholding it.
Those who fall short on integrity will often find themselves without trust within their relationships. Trust is essential to leading a team to the next level. If your team cannot trust you, how do you expect them to fulfill their duties? Your word holds greater weight when it comes to being a leader they truly admire.
4.Ability To Delegate
Delegating is the best way for a team to work because it allows each member of the team to focus on what they're good at. Any good leader knows they cannot do it all. They set out to create a team that is skilled in different areas to ensure the mission or task can be accomplished. As the old saying goes, two heads are better than one.
When you have team members with a variety of different specialty skills this allows for expansion in multiple ways to produce, gain profits, and become even a leader within a specified industry.
5.Positive Influence
Starting each day with a positive mindset as a leader starts with your routine in your very own home. If you personally don’t take care of your own needs each morning, it will be hard to be the best supportive leader you can be for your team.
Having positive morale is contagious. And, while some days may be tougher than others, keeping an open mind full of optimism will allow you to influence your team to believe in themselves. If they don’t feel the energy is positive this can make it hard for your team to know their work is appreciated.
6.Self Awareness
As a leader, self-awareness is key. Without it, you'll be at a disadvantage when it comes to decision-making and adapting to new situations. Worse, you may end up making decisions that unintentionally create setbacks with those you're trying to lead.
So how can you develop greater self-awareness? Start by taking some time for introspection. What are your values? What motivates you? What drives your decisions? Once you have a better understanding of yourself, you can start to become more attuned to the needs and wants of those around you.
7.Respect
Respect is a cornerstone of successful leadership. If you want to be a respected leader, you need to learn how to show respect to others first. Showing respect for others shows that you value their contributions and ideas. It also demonstrates your commitment to treating people fairly, establishing trust, and collaborating to reach your organization’s goals.
When colleagues don’t feel respected they are less likely to stay on the team. This leads to greater turnover, financial losses, and often failure to reach long-term and short-term goals.
If you are looking to improve your team’s leadership capabilities, message us here to learn more about our programs.
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