What makes a great leader? At the risk of sounding like a cheap motivational speaker, the answer to this question isn’t as simple as it once was. If I think back to my childhood, my friends and I chose leaders based on what were two—at the time—crucial criteria: how fast you could run, and how ‘fully sick’ your shoes were. Admittedly, times were a lot simpler during my adolescence.
Nowadays, when it comes to electing, following, or working for leaders, being the fastest doesn’t really carry the same weight. Personally, however, I still find a ‘fully sick’ pair of shoes equally important.
So why has it changed? Is our who-is-the-fastest style of choosing really all that different to choosing a leader based on their supposed technical proficiency? Probably not, I know. The main difference, rather, is that now, in adulthood, we demand more than simply being technically proficient. It’s simply not enough to be a great programmer, doctor, engineer, or teacher… leaders must now also be great listeners, be empathetic, be compassionate, be kind, be cooperative, be collaborative… I could go on.
Whether you’re already in a position of leadership, or you have ambitions to lead in the future, here are six in-demand skills that all leaders should have.
1. Drive
Effective leaders know how to get the most out of their people. Sometimes this requires taking a more hands-on approach, while at other times it may require taking a few steps back and trusting your team to get the job done. Regardless of the approach taken, great leaders get the best out of their team.
If you’re a leader and you want your team to follow you, a great place to start is with work ethic or, as I like to call it: drive. Lead by example. Show your team that you have true drive and a great passion for what you do and they’ll follow suit.
2. Communication
Efficient communication is arguably the most important skill of effective leaders, as being able to succinctly articulate what you require from your team is paramount to them being able to achieve what is required of them.
Effective leaders, however, are not only excellent at conveying messages, but they’re also patient and attentive listeners. If one of your team comes to you with a complaint or a suggestion, you should listen carefully to what they have to say with an open mind and intent to understand.
3. Innovation
When you think of the most successful people in the world, what comes to mind? Did you notice I said ‘what’ and not ‘who’? What is it that successful people do that makes them so successful? The answer? They innovate, and innovation is the cornerstone of strong leadership. This doesn’t mean you need to constantly churn out new ideas, but you should strive to be different and interesting.
There is no one right way of doing something. Keeping an open mind and constantly seeking efficient solutions will rub off on your team members.
4. Relationship building
When you set out to build a house, you don’t start off by building the ceiling in the hope that it might just somehow fit later on, that all of the pieces will come together in perfect harmony just by chance.
Much like building a house, the most important element of any business is a strong foundation, and, in business, the strongest foundation isn’t made from water, steel and cement, it is made from trust, commitment and respect.
But how do we build trust, commitment and respect? Well, firstly, it takes time. Second, it works both ways. If you’re in a leadership position, make an effort to build a relationship with your employees, customers, suppliers, and competitors alike. Relationships built on mutual trust and respect are the most likely to garner success.
5. Honesty (with themselves and others)
Nobody knows everything. Nobody’s perfect. Something that might surprise a lot of people employed in leadership positions is that your team don’t expect you to know it all. Being realistic about the areas you need help in and admitting your shortcomings to your team isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it will foster more trust and respect than acting like you have all the answers ever will.
The key here, as it turns out, is honesty. Be honest with yourself about your abilities and your employees will be honest with you about theirs.
