How to become a better leader
As a leader, mastering soft skills is as important as possessing the right hard (technical) skills. Taking the role seriously and participating in courses, seminars, and active learning can help you develop the skills necessary to be an effective and respected leader. Strong leaders consider the team’s needs and can work with various personality styles.
Related: The Difference Between Leadership and Management
Seven skills to help you become a better leader
To help you learn to lead your team or organization better, we have outlined seven valuable skills below:
1. Interpersonal communication
Interpersonal communication focuses on the words you use and how you connect with employees. When tackling a complex project, address the team using words like “opportunity” rather than “challenge.”
Related: Intro to the Fundamentals of Business Communication
2. Active listening
Active listening is a valuable communication skill for leaders. It means listening carefully to the message the other person is delivering and retaining the information they share. Improving this skill can help you better understand each team member’s personal needs, challenges and concerns and proactively address them. It also enables you to build rapport and leave a positive impression. For example, if a team member shares that they would like to take on more creative projects and you begin delegating more creative assignments, it shows you are listening and care about their fulfillment at work.
Related: How To Improve Your Workplace Communication Skills
3. Goal setting
One of the most challenging obstacles leaders face is unifying their team around a common purpose and driving cooperation. Setting clear, measurable goals helps teams work together and, when they achieve their objective, helps them bond over a shared success. For example, instead of telling your team you want to increase revenue this quarter, set an exact goal with a measurable number and lay out a clear roadmap for reaching it. This way, your team knows what’s expected and can unite to meet the objective.
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4. Diplomacy
As a leader, it is important to support company goals and your team’s needs simultaneously. Achieving this balance means maintaining good relations with senior stakeholders and the people you manage through open communication with both parties. For example, reaching a company goal may sometimes mean asking your team to increase their output by working extended hours. In this situation, you may negotiate performance-based bonuses for each team member. This strategy helps the company by ensuring your team is motivated to meet their goal and shows your team you value their extra efforts.
Related: How to Develop Emotional Intelligence to Become a Better Leader
5. Conflict resolution
Occasionally, conflicts arise between employees or departments, and it falls to those in management positions to ease tensions and unify the workforce. This tactic requires patience, consistent communication and immediate action. Quickly addressing any conflicts will ensure a positive work environment for everyone involved. For example, if two employees have different opinions about the best way to handle a project and begin to divide the team, stepping in and closing the gap is imperative. Listening to both sides and mediating a compromise between the employees will help everyone move forward.
6. Motivation
Stress and heavy workloads can affect team morale and threaten productivity. When managing teams, remain aware of your direct reports’ wellbeing and consistently drive them to do their best. To effectively motivate your team, setting a good example and empowering them to achieve personal objectives is important. Take time to discover each employee’s goals and help them gain the skills needed to reach them. For example, if you know an employee is interested in pursuing a more senior role, allow them to lead meetings and projects so they can develop their leadership skills.
Related: How to Empower Employees in the Workplace
7. Decisiveness
Leaders are responsible for making many decisions. These range from significant decisions, like hiring a new team member, to small choices, like selecting a meeting time. The faster and more active you are in your decision-making, the better you’ll earn your team’s trust and confidence. To improve this skill, quickly collect all the necessary information, weigh potential outcomes and trust your experience and instincts as your guides. For example, if you’re deciding between two possible candidates for an open position on your team, consider their experience and skills and how their personality traits align with the company culture. Becoming a great leader comes with experience, but developing these seven skills will help manage teams of all sizes to be more productive, effective, and fulfilled in their work.
Related: 5 Essential Insights to Guide Talent Leaders in 2024
Examine your leadership skills and assess where you possess strengths and weaknesses. Continue developing your skills throughout your career to continue growing and moving forward.
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