Not all leaders are bosses, and not all bosses are leaders. Leadership is an important trait at all levels but can be difficult to quantify.
To find your own strengths and weaknesses evaluate yourself in the following 5 areas.
Competence
In order for a leader to be successful in today’s business environment, it is crucial that they have professional competence. This does not mean that the leader must know how to do everything, but rather that they know what to do and how to get it done. Every successful leader should be aware of their strengths and weaknesses and as a result, will know exactly who they need on their team to help compensate in the areas where they lack expertise.
Courage (and Confidence)
As a leader, you will be calling the shots and making big decisions often under immense pressure, time restrictions and with great consequences. For every decision made there will always be critics. However, a successful leader will have the courage to follow through with decisions, because they believe in themselves, their capabilities and what they have to offer.
Communications
It’s no surprise that the best leaders in business today also happen to be skillful communicators. Through clear communication, successful leaders have the ability to convey expectations, promote accountability, and build trust. In addition, effective communication will most importantly motivate others to jump on board with your vision. Leaders who skillfully interact with others will ensure that their message takes deep root with their audience and will guarantee it is understood and championed.
Compass
Leaders must always be 2 steps ahead. Meaning that they must have a vision of where they want to go and a strategic plan of how to get there. Leading with a metaphorical ‘compass’ in hand will help leaders foresee challenges that may arise in the future and in turn mitigate risk. When the vision has a plan it allows leaders to be proactive rather than reactive.
Coaching Skills
The most effective leaders also have the qualities of a great coach. A study conducted by Bersin & Associates showed that organizations with leaders who coach effectively and frequently improve their business results by 21% as compared to those who never coach. Leaders who coach their team will not only experience higher productivity, they will also improve morale and retain top talent.
To learn more about the Leadership Transition Program (LTP) and how this tool can be used to enrich your leadership ability, see our LTP Page here.
