Leadership skills are some of the most sought-after traits in a professional career. A leader makes his/her place in the workforce and helps others achieve success in their respective fields. Most employers prefer people with leadership skills as they work better in a team than others. Moreover, their office presence radiates a sense of comfort and is approachable, positively boosting morale throughout the workspace. People with good leadership skills tend to reach high in their careers.
One might wonder, what does it take to be a leader? Researchers suggested several factors such as; strategic thinking, collaboration, work management, etc., contribute to becoming a leader. Besides, leadership training plays a significant role in attaining the skill-set required. However, the most critical factors contributing to developing leadership skills begin with personality, genetic and learned traits.
Since genetic traits are something that naturally becomes a part of you, it is essential to lookup leadership qualities that you can easily develop in the first place. This article provides you a list of personality traits that you can practice to be an effective leader.
Table of Contents
1. Good Communication Skills
To become a good leader, you need to know how to get your point across in the most efficient way possible. In the business environment, clear, concise, and assertive communication is of paramount importance. It would be best to develop your communication skills or consider pursuing an education in a related field.
Education plays a significant role in communication and in developing the required confidence a leader must-have. Pursuing a Masters degree may be a good idea to consider. A strategic communication masters will give you the right communication skills to grow in your career and reach new heights in the corporate hierarchy.
2. Empathy and Willingness to Listen
To be an impactful leader, you need to understand what your subordinates and colleagues are going through. Lending a helping hand or merely listening to your employee’s struggles and concerns play a significant role in becoming an impactful leader. Corporate stress dampens an employee’s potential more often than not, leaving him/her feeling anxious and bogged down with work.
Cathartic relief in a trusted co-worker can alleviate some of the pressure and motivate them to focus and get back to work. Empathizing and hearing your co-workers or subordinates concerns can go a long way in improving your workplace image. A leader is there to listen and lend a helping hand whenever they can. Empathy is one of the most important factors when it comes to making a difference as a leader.
3. Professional Standards and code of ethics
When working at a corporate, things don’t always happen the way you want them to be. Ups and downs and delays can affect business activity more than you anticipated. Influential leaders are high on professional ethics and business practices. Leaders prefer to communicate business preferences and vision for smooth work management to remain clear about their employees’ expectations.
Since there is always diversity in the workforce, it is best to remain composed and patient when things don’t go your way. By doing so, you are setting an example for those around you, as losing your patience can reflect low professional standards and ethical values. Higher-ups usually frown upon impatience in the workplace.
In extreme cases, HR could take corrective action towards people who lose their temper and refuse to comply with the appropriate behavioral protocol. Notably, managing patience level in the most challenging situations reflects your level of maturity and professionalism.
4. Strategic thinking and Work Management
The nature of work and the overall workload differs from day to day. For instance, sometimes, you might be doing several tasks at once. An impactful leader needs to set priorities, ranging from the most crucial to least important tasks. This will help you to develop a good impression on those around you. Also, it would be best to finish the task at hand before moving on to another one.
Focusing on one task will ensure no work errors, as your attention will remain undivided. It will further improve your time management skills. Effective work management shows that you are ready to put in the required efforts to ensure the perfect execution of assigned tasks. Tackling your tasks one by one, showing your dedication, and streamlining your focus can go a long way in making you an impactful leader.
Focusing on strategic goals of your company will help you create development plans that align your team member’s career aspirations with the company’s goals. This will make it easier for you to help build them up and achieve results, one goal at a time. – Michael Mauro
Conclusion
Generally, setting a good example for those around you is a great way to become an impactful and influential leader in the workplace. Doing so might create a positive aura and help people around you in performing better at their jobs. You may not realize it, but you could be indirectly influencing the efficiency of the workplace.
The tips mentioned above could go a long way in helping you become an effective leader. Not only does that benefit you in your work life, but your personal life may see changes as well. As mentioned above, leadership skills and traits are the most attractive and sought after personality types. Once you begin flexing your leadership traits in the workplace, you can be sure to see a change in your everyday life. Give it a shot to see which characteristics work best for you!
About Carson Derrow
