Good leaders take time to build leadership skills that inspire people to work hard toward a common goal or purpose. Effective leadership is not intuitive; in fact, what works often runs counter to our assumptions.
We now have decades of research on leadership and data to prove what actually works. Certain skills consistently help people focus, align, and engage.
Effective Leadership Skills
Here are the most important skills for effective leadership.
- Instills Trust: Trust is the basis for human connection and a necessary skill for building high-performing teams.
- Demonstrates Confidence: Nobody follows a leader who isn’t confident. True confidence is a skill that comes from developing authenticity and self-regard.
- Respects Others: Respect is mutual. If you want to earn respect, you need to know how to respect others first.
- Negotiates Alignment: To align teams around a common goal, leaders must negotiate respectfully within their teams to promote better collaboration and enthusiasm for achieving common goals.
- Decision Making: Every leader is responsible for decisions that move the team forward. Good leaders manage their own emotions and gather information to make effective decisions.
Next Steps
For more on these skills, how they work and why, see “What are the Skills You Need to be Successful?
Do you have the leadership skills you need? Take my Leadership Skills Audit.
Want to develop these skills now? Check out my group coaching series, Leadership Essentials.