What Are the Important Leadership Skills That Make a Great Leader
Great leaders are not born; they are made. Anyone can become a great leader with the right skills, experience, and opportunity. Great leaders share certain qualities that set them apart from the rest.
However, becoming a great leader is not easy. It takes time, effort, and dedication to develop the necessary skills. But it is certainly achievable for anyone willing to put in the work. Are you ready to become a great leader?
Here, you'll learn:
- What is leadership
- Different leadership styles
- Basic leadership skills you need
- Qualities of a great leader
So if you aspire to become a great leader, continue reading to discover more!
What is Leadership?
You may have seen people in your community or online who seem to take charge and get things done. Maybe you've been in a scenario where you felt like you needed to take charge. But what exactly is leadership?
Leadership, in its simplest definition, is the capacity to have an impact on and inspire those around you. Leaders can influence others by providing purpose, direction, and motivation while inspiring confidence and trust. Leaders come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and there is no one formula for what makes a great leader.
Having the ability to lead is something some individuals are just born with, while others have to work at. One thing is for sure that all leaders have in common, though, is the ability to motivate and inspire others. With that being said, let's unravel the different leadership styles first, shall we?
Different Leadership Styles
Different people need different leadership styles to feel inspired and motivated. Leadership styles are essential to understand if you want to be an effective leader.
There are a few different leadership styles, and each one can be useful in different situations. Here are the common leadership styles that you should know.
Autocratic Leadership
Autocratic leaders, also called authoritarian leaders, clearly know where they want to go and how to get there. Their essential skills include telling people what tasks should be done when they should be done, and how they should be done.
These leaders usually expect people to take their orders at face value and do what they say immediately. However, If members don't trust or believe in their leadership enough, they might not feel comfortable doing it.
Consultative Leadership
This is when a leader solicits input from others before making decisions. This style builds trust and partnership within a team because everyone feels their voices are heard.
However, consultation takes time, so this style may not be feasible in every situation. If you're stuck in your decision-making, consider consulting with your team before moving forward.
Democratic Leadership
It is similar to consultative leadership in that decisions are made after taking input from the team. However, the leader allows the team to vote on decisions in this case. This style can lead to high morale and a sense of ownership among team members.
However, it can also lead to conflict and misunderstanding if team members disagree on major decisions. If you're considering adopting a democratic leadership style, make sure everyone on your team is on board with the idea first.
Laissez-faire Leadership
Business leaders usually possess this kind of leadership. This is when the leader steps back and allows the team to take care of business without much interference or guidance. This hands-off approach can lead to increased creativity and innovation among team members.
However, it can also lead to chaos if team members don't have a clear vision or direction. If you're considering adopting a laissez-faire leadership style, ensure your team is prepared for it first.
Transformational Leaders
This leadership style enables change within their teams by setting a clear vision and mobilizing team members to achieve it. This type of leader often possesses charisma and emotional intelligence, which helps them rally others around their cause.
However, transformational leaders can also become overbearing if they're not careful. If you want to implement change within your team, make sure you do it in a way that doesn't sacrifice relationships or respect.
There are many different leadership styles out there—it's important to find the one that works best for you and your team. Not all styles will work for every situation. More so, you cannot be those leaders, as mentioned above, if you don't possess specific leadership skills. Intrigued to know what they are? Here they are.
Effective Leadership Skills You Need To Become a Great Leader
Successful Leaders inspire others to follow them and to do their best work. They know how to motivate and keep their team focused on the task. And they possess several other essential leadership skills. Here are the 4skills you need to become a great leader:
Communication Skills
Communicating clearly and concisely is an effective leadership skill for any leader. You need to be able to share your vision with your team and get them on board with your goals. You should be capable of being articulate your expectations clearly and offering constructive criticism that will encourage and improve performance.
Decision-Making Skills
Leaders who lack the ability to act decisively and with conviction are ineffective. You can't hesitate to make decisions that will impact your team or company. You also need to be able to make decisions based on data and logic, not just your gut feeling.
Motivational Skills
A great leader knows how to motivate their team. This means setting clear goals and providing regular feedback. It also means being supportive and positive, even when things are tough. And it means finding ways to keep your team engaged and excited about their work.
Organizational Skills
A good leader needs to be well-organized to keep their team on track. This means having a clear plan for each project and breaking it into manageable tasks. It also means tracking progress and keeping everyone on schedule. And it means being able to handle unexpected challenges that come up along the way.
Qualities that Make a Great Leader
Leaders motivate and inspire others to achieve greatness. But what qualities make someone a great leader?
They've Got a Plan
The best leaders clearly know where they want their team, company, or organization to go. They know what they need to do to get where they want. This goal gives everyone involved direction and inspiration. Without it, people can quickly feel down and lose their way.
They Communicate Effectively
Great leaders know how to tell other people about their vision in a way that is both inspiring and easy to understand. They also know how to listen to comments and concerns, which often helps them come up with better ideas than they would have on their own.
They Are Decisive
Great leaders don't worry about what could have been or what could go wrong when they have to make hard choices. Instead, they think about the best way to move forward and confidently do it. This lets them act quickly on opportunities and avoid getting stuck because they can't decide what to do.
They Are Fair but Not Soft
Great leaders expect their team members to do their best but are also fair with praise and criticism. Everyone makes mistakes, and that's how we grow and learn. But good leaders know how to give their team members feedback that helps them improve without putting them down.
They Lead by Example
Great leaders are those who lead by example. They do what they say and show by Example how they want their team members to act. Because of this, they are respected and trusted by everyone around them. People are more likely to follow someone who does what they say they believe in instead of just talking about it.
Final Thoughts
So, what are the important leadership skills that make a great leader? The answer isn't as straightforward as one may think. It takes years of practice and development to hone the skills required to be an effective leader.
That's why it's so important for leaders-in-training to seek leadership training and coaching. Leadership experience can't be made up for anything, and the greatest way to acquire that experience is to study under seasoned leaders.
B2B Leadership Academy will help you learn more about yourself and how to be a better leader through these programs. You'll be able to try out your new skills in a safe, helpful place. The skills of an effective leader will become clear to you.
