For the bulk of my career, I thought it to be true — and it wasn't until lately that I realized how much this mindset hampered my personal and professional progress. Perhaps you've also bought into the misconception that leadership is a skill reserved for a select few, depriving yourself of a valuable potential for advancement.
While we all have abilities and attributes that come with our personalities, some of the most crucial components of a successful profession, such as strong leadership skills, may be acquired.
If you want to be more productive and efficient at work, and motivate others to do the same, you need first focus on being a greater leader. The good news is that gaining these talents does not need a specific education or degree, or even an official management title; anybody who is determined to learn may become a leader.
Throughout my career, I've seen some of the most crucial characteristics that most outstanding leaders have. Want to be one of them? Here are six excellent leadership qualities to implement and improve in your workplace right now.
1. Communication
To lead effectively, you must not only have a vision, but also understand how to convey it effectively.
When I originally launched my firm, I was quite enthusiastic about my idea. I created my product with this idea in mind, knowing that it may change our clients' lives. The hardest aspect was trying to express that idea as my team increased.
It's one thing to excite people with a big-picture vision when starting a business, but it's quite another to discover new methods to explain future objectives and reasoning for transformation.
decent communication is more than just being able to compose a decent email or deliver an effective presentation. It's the capacity to inspire, encourage, and push people with a larger vision, even in the midst of daily work - finding methods to assist each member of your team grasp the overall picture of where you want to go and how their jobs and projects fit into it.
2. Integrity
When I think of good leadership skills, the first thing that comes to me is honesty. And I am not the only one. In a poll of 195 executives from 15 firms, 67 percent ranked "high ethical and moral standards" as the most significant leadership characteristic.
Taking shortcuts or being dishonest may result in momentary gains. However, one thing I've learned during my work is that cutting corners does not lead to long-term success. It will absolutely not be rewarding.
In his book Winners Never Cheat, author and business executive Jon Huntsman, Sr. argues that character is the distinguishing feature of a successful leader.
Integrity, in my opinion, is the integration of your ideals, words, and deeds. When you lead with integrity, you instill trust in your team and stakeholders, increasing the likelihood that people will follow your lead.
3. Decisiveness
Making a high-stakes decision isn't always simple, especially when you know others are counting on you to do it right. More frequently than not, a major decision you make will not turn out as intended. If this happens, you will be confronted with another crucial decision: Will you take responsibility? Will you bear the blame? And, more importantly, will you be encouraged to create a better path for your team?
The capacity to make a choice under duress is a crucial aspect of leadership, but the ultimate hallmark of a decisive leader is not the ability to make the correct decision. Great leaders are not only capable of making sound judgments for people they lead; they are also ready to accept the risk that if things do not go as planned, they will be held responsible.
4. Focus
Imagine you are a passenger on a boat. There is a storm approaching, and the waves are growing choppier by the minute. Not only that, but it's becoming dark outside and you don't know which way the coast is. Who would you turn to for a sense of safety?
A leader is similar to the captain of a ship. The person at the helm is responsible for not only selecting where the ship will end up at the conclusion of the trip, but also navigating it in the appropriate direction, even during a storm. That's why remaining focused is such an important aspect of great leadership.
Great leaders maintain their focus on success, which necessitates planning ahead, remaining prepared, and contemplating different situations and outcomes — all while considering alternative ways forward if things don't work out.
5. Humility
If you want to inspire people to learn and grow, you must first be willing to learn and grow yourself. This necessitates humility, or a willingness to be adaptable, accept your mistakes, and, most importantly, be open to learning from others. Humility may also be defined as teachability.
How can you use this talent in your workplace? Problem solving is an excellent way to practice becoming a teachable leader.
For example, if you're attempting to discover a solution to a problem, avoid pushing your own agenda. When your team senses that you are receptive to (and excited about) their ideas, a wider range of potentially disruptive ideas will emerge.
Furthermore, if your team understands you value free thinking, they will be more inspired to take the initiative and work independently to generate their own answers and ideas.
6. Connection
As a leader, you have the unique opportunity to bring out the best in those around you, which is a critical component of organizational success. To achieve success, however, you must first focus on connection.
Neuroscience informs us that if people do not feel emotionally safe, they will be unable to access the creative and strategic parts of their brain. Instead, they'll be focused on survival, which isn't exactly conducive to success in life or at work.
It is the leader's obligation to promote connection and belonging in the workplace so that people can reach their full potential.
To develop a stronger connection among your team members and inspire them to reach their full potential, see them as individuals rather than just workers. Say hello with a grin. Remember specific facts regarding their personal life. Compliment them when they perform well and let them know you appreciate their efforts and accomplishments.
As you develop deep relationships with your coworkers, you will be able to realize your full potential as a successful leader.
