ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS

The first step to becoming a good leader is to hone some of the most essential leadership skills, and those are the things that this chapter will mainly talk about. Your task is to assess whether or not you already have these skills. If you do, then look for areas where you can improve. If you do not, then it is time to hone these skills if you truly want to become a good leader.

ANTICIPATION

Anticipation is the ability to detect possible threats and opportunities. This is an essential leadership skill because it allows you to predict and plan your courses of action in case things don’t go the way you initially planned. As a leader, you must be capable of anticipating both internal and external problems, as well as opportunities. You can develop this skill with the help of the following tips:

Conduct research - This is especially true if you are handling several business engagements. If you really want your team to achieve success, then you need to conduct research about the various scenarios that you may encounter along the process. This will help you and your team to identify potential problems and find possible solutions as early as possible.

Picture the process of reaching your goals – Once you have set your goals, picture out how you and your team will achieve them. What are the things that are likely to happen? What are the problems that may arise?

GREAT DECISION-MAKING SKILLS

Your ability to weigh things carefully, so you can come up with the best decision will be put to use once you become a leader. You need to weigh everything carefully since one mistake in the decision-making process can have a drastic impact on your goal. Follow a more disciplined decision-making approach. The following tips can also help you in honing your decision-making skills:

Be open to all options – Consider several options before making the final decision. Ask the opinions of your members. Avoid deciding alone. Once you have already gathered a list of options or solutions, weigh the pros and cons of each one. Find out which among the gathered options can benefit your team the most.

Consult your followers - Yes, you are the leader, and you have the final say in all decisions, but you can only be a good decision-maker if you open the conversation to your members. Ask them what they think about the problem, and how they think the problem can be addressed. Evaluate their insights and come up with a decision.

LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKE

Another thing that makes great leaders amazing is their ability to learn from their mistakes. Yes, you are the leader of your group, but you are also human and you are capable of committing a mistake. Acknowledge your mistakes and use them to be better. Avoid blaming your members for the mistakes that you have committed. Here are also some tips for you to use the mistakes that you and your team members have committed in the past to your advantage:

Review past actions and decisions - Look back at your past performances and assess where exactly you and your organisation went wrong. This will let you know what you should avoid in the future.

Reward members who perform well - One of the best ways to keep your team motivated is to give them rewards for their praiseworthy deeds. This will encourage them to do better in their jobs. Appreciate their good performance, performance, instead of just focusing on their mistakes. Aside from motivating them, this tip can also foster harmonious relationship within your group.

Regulate reprimands - Avoid shouting at your members, or telling them hurtful words in case they commit mistakes. Try to point out their mistakes without making them feel too bad. Use an encouraging tone when presenting their mistakes, so you can inspire them to do better next time and avoid committing the same mistake.

Always up for a challenge

Challenging conventional ways is also necessary for good and effective leadership. If you stick to old ways, you may not achieve something grand and extraordinary. Only when you challenge these things and take risks will you succeed significantly. How exactly should leaders challenge conventions?

Encourage debate among your members - Even if you have already arrived at a decision, engage your members and discuss your individual viewpoints. This will allow you to make reforms, and take your decision to a higher and more challenging level.

Consider dissenting ideas - People do not agree for a reason. Sometimes, these reasons play a crucial role in decision-making. They have the potential to bring out grand results.

Do not be afraid to go beyond long-standing beliefs - It is one thing to stand for your principles, but it is another thing to bring things to new heights. Do not be afraid of the future. Greater dreams bring greater results.

COURAGEOUS

You can’t expect to display all of the skills mentioned above if you are not courageous. As a leader, you have to showcase your courage to the whole team. Let them know that you are courageous enough to do what it takes to achieve your team’s ultimate goal. Aside from the skills and characteristics mentioned above, you also need to develop the following traits to become an effective leader.

Ability to empower your members - A leader is expected to know how to empower his followers. You have to develop your ability to encourage and motivate people to take action.

Listening skills - A leader should not only dictate commands; he also needs to learn how to listen. You need to hear the side of the members of your group, and ensure that you let them know how much you value their opinions.

Sets a good example - A leader is also expected to set a good example to his followers. Instead of just telling your followers what to do, you also need to let them see that you are also taking action. This is where you can effectively apply the saying, “lead by example”.

Takes responsibility - Good leaders have also mastered the skill of taking responsibility. Even if you are not the one who committed the mistakes, you be willing to take responsibility of the actions of your members. Instead of blaming them, try to motivate them to do better next time in case of slip-ups.

Excellent communication skills – You also need to hone your communication skills if you want to become an effective leader. While you may have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, the challenge is on how to explain it to your group without being met by blank stares. You have to learn how to clearly describe what you want your group to do. Know exactly how you can clearly communicate your vision to your group, so you can work together to achieve the same goal.

Confidence – There are times when things don’t seem to go according to what you initially planned. As a leader, you have to be capable of showing your confidence at times like this. This is a major help in maintaining the team’s morale. Be confident in your ability and the ability of your group to succeed. Assure them that setbacks are all part of your journey towards reaching your goal.

Positive attitude - A good leader is capable of maintaining a positive attitude all the time. Motivate your team and keep their energy up by ensuring that you consistently display a positive attitude. There should be a great balance between playfulness and productivity within your group.

Ability to inspire – You also need to hone your ability to inspire your group, if you want to ensure that you will eventually reach your future goals. Also, recognise that your followers also need a break from time to time. Show them how you appreciate their efforts, as well as acknowledge their accomplishments, no matter how minor. This can keep their spirits up, thereby inspiring them to work even harder.