People often talk about “leadership” as if it’s a singular thing. But really leadership exists at the nexus of a series of skills. Given that fact, what are the key components of leadership?
It’s an important question. Every organization wants successful managers. But beyond those supervisory roles, organizations seek out frontline employees who show leadership skills as well. No matter what position you apply for, your prospective employer will want to test your abilities in these areas.
And yet, companies continually guess wrong. Even though they value leadership skills, a Gallup study showed that firms pick the wrong person for management roles 82% of the time. That means they make the right selection fewer than two out of every 10 times.
So how can you show your leadership skills if companies aren’t even sure what they should look for? The key is to drill down on the component abilities and build your leadership credentials from the ground up.
With that in mind, here are the most sought-after leadership skills:
Integrity
A leadership position comes with a large amount of trust. You’ll have important safety and financial oversight, which, in unscrupulous hands, could create significant problems for the company. As such, firms will place a high value on integrity as a starting point for any leaders.
Problem Solving
Leaders need to be able to react effectively in an emergency. The ability to discover creative solutions to unexpected obstacles will make you a sought-after choice for management positions.
Foresight
Reacting to surprise problems helps define a leader. But you know what makes an even better leadership trait? Avoiding problems altogether.
The ability to predict potential difficulties and design effective responses saves time, money, and headaches. Demonstrate this ability for contingency planning and you’ll increase your value dramatically.
Flexibility
As good as you are at planning and predicting how situations will unfold, you will face surprising challenges. (The last few years provide ample evidence of that.) As such, you need to be ready to change your tactics as circumstances evolve. A high degree of flexibility lets you maximize your response to particular conditions.
Communication
We often think of leaders in terms of decision-making. They determine the right thing to do and decisively turn that judgement into action.
But there’s another crucial step to the process: communicating a decision. By definition, a leader gets others involved in facilitating any action. That requires effective, constructive communication.
Accountability
Sure, you love getting credit when your team succeeds. But do you take as much responsibility when it falls short? Companies want leaders who solve problems rather than making excuses. As such, accountability becomes a crucial trait for ultimate success.
Effective Delegation
You can’t do everything. In fact, you shouldn’t want to do everything. A strong leader makes the most of their resources, including the talents of everyone on the team.
Doing this requires effective delegation. Let your team members share in responsibility. Get more done by assigning whatever tasks you can.
Empathy
You have a great sensitivity to markets and business situations. But what about emotions? The ability to connect with people makes you a better manager and a better leader.
Ready to put your leadership skills to the test? A top recruiter, like PrideStaff, can find the perfect situation for your skills and background.
Contact PrideStaff today to learn more.
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