Leaders need to know more than how to do their job. They need a few important soft skills. Soft skills are what allow you to fit in at work. Personality, attitude, adaptability, drive, and etiquette are among them.
Hard skills (also known as technical abilities) are directly applicable to the job you seek, while soft skills are typically more tangible and easier to master.
The importance of good leadership skills
An effective leader has skills and attributes that motivate team members to follow them. Team leaders are born with specific attributes, such as compassion and honesty, or they acquire them via formal training and experience. Being an outstanding leader may create trust in the team while also contributing to the department’s success through increased team productivity.
Whether you’re attempting to advance your career or already running your own business, your good leadership skills will be among your most significant assets.
Good leadership skills (and what to avoid)
1. Honesty
Honesty is the bedrock of leadership. It is the willingness to convey one’s thoughts or feelings, even if uncomfortable or unpopular. Honesty may be characterized as a willingness to listen and address problems before the data has been entirely outlined when prospective options have not yet been fully crystallized, and conclusions have not yet been reached. It may also be construed as keeping your word, following through on commitments, and delivering on time.
2. Communication
Communication comprises various skills, like active listening, transparency, clarity and effective body language. These also vary based on the mode of communication: in person, over the phone or via digital and social media.
How you deal with your employees and provide feedback is also linked to your communication abilities. In this article that our founder, Iliana Rocha, wrote for Brainz magazine, she shares tips on coaching and feedback for leaders who can improve their communication skills.
3. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage emotions in oneself and others. It is an important talent for all leaders, even more so than IQ. By boosting your emotional intelligence, you will be capable of effectively communicating, encouraging your team, distributing work, and remaining flexible under pressure.
Emotionally intelligent people are acutely aware of their own emotional states, even when unfavourable, ranging from annoyance or grief to something more subtle. They can recognize and comprehend what they are feeling. As a result, emotionally intelligent people have great self-esteem and are realistic about themselves.
4. Empathy
Empathy is necessary, yet it is rare. There are numerous definitions of empathy, the most fundamental of which is the ability to understand the feelings of others, as well as the ability to perceive what others are feeling or thinking.
Several studies have shown that empathy is essential for good leadership. However, having a lot of empathy might leave you feeling overwhelmed, worn out, or even overstimulated. Therefore, it is important to be empathetic while also protecting yourself from getting engulfed in sympathy.
5. Financial Literacy
Your business goals will be heavily influenced by financial performance indicators such as profitability, cash flow, and other vital measures. Financial literacy is the confident grasp of saving, investing, and debt that leads to a sense of overall financial well-being and self-trust.
Being financially educated helps a person be better prepared for certain financial hurdles, reducing the likelihood of personal economic suffering.
6. Resilience
Resilience is the ability to adapt and recover fast under stressful situations. Resilience does not always imply conquering enormous problems. It also does not imply that you have not had emotional suffering or despair.
Emotional stress and strain are frequently encountered on the path to resilience. Every one of us experiences challenges daily that need us to draw on our reservoirs of resilience. It entails cultivating attitudes, habits, and actions that help you recover from traumatic or stressful life situations.
Are you exercising these good leadership skills in your daily work? Maybe it is time to explore new possibilities as a leader. Check out our solutions in coaching and training.
