It is said that leaders are not born, but made through hard work and dedication. It takes different types of skills to advance in your profession and be a true leader that everyone admires. Unfortunately, these “soft skills” are not taught in the classroom. You have to learn these skills on the job and by seeking advice from friends and professional colleagues. The good news is these skills can be learned, and once you master them the payoff is significant in terms of promotion and pay increase / bonus. You don’t even have to wait till you get a job to learn these skills. You can teach your school going kids these skills to give them jump start on their future careers. After all, you need a combination of school education and soft leadership skills to get hired and advance in the career.
For example, a master of public administration degree will give you the technical skills you need for a position of leadership, click here to learn more about how you can earn one. Once you’re on the job, you can work on strengthening your connected leadership skills by finding ways to contribute as much as you can to your organization, even when that means taking on tasks that are not in your job description. Always look for ways to improve your organization, and be willing to learn from the wisdom and experience of others. You’ll need to learn how to manage your time, handle conflict, communicate well, keep your head in a crisis, delegate tasks and earn your team’s loyalty. Those of you looking for in-person and virtual leadership training in Toronto or anywhere in the world, can check out the workshops from Corporate Class Inc. Here are some tips on how you can build and improve your leadership skills.
Take Initiatives
No matter what position you currently occupy in your organization, you can begin growing your leadership skills and demonstrate your ambition by taking the initiative on your own. When given a task or assignment, think about ways you can go the extra mile as you are working on it.
Don’t shy away from accepting a task just because it is not in your job description. Taking on activities outside of your normal arena will teach you new skills and show your supervisors that you have leadership qualities. Look around your organization for important tasks no one is willing to take, and do them. If you see problems or areas that could use improvement, respectfully offer solutions.
Learn from Others
When you start in a new position, don’t act like you know everything. You will alienate colleagues who have been there longer than you and who probably know more about it.
Instead, ask your more experienced colleagues thoughtful questions that will give them the opportunity to share their knowledge and wisdom with you. Don’t worry about sounding inexperienced, especially if you are just starting in that position.
Manage Your Time
To be an effective leader, you to need to learn to manage your time well. Work on disciplining yourself and prioritizing the right tasks. It is only through proper time management techniques will you be able to take on challenging tasks and contribute more.
Develop People Skills
A good leader needs to be a good communicator and motivator. You will need to learn how to handle conflicts and keep a cool head in a crisis situation. You should also work on developing the skills to earn and keep your team’s loyalty.
Good communication is about more than speaking clearly, directly and respectfully. Listening skills are equally vital. Remember that a significant percentage of communication is nonverbal, so pay attention to your body language as well as that of the person you are speaking to.
When listening to someone, give them your full attention. Maintain eye contact and respond as necessary. If you need to have a difficult conversation with someone, have that conversation in private. Communication can always be improved so consider hiring a public speaking coach online if you want to get better at it.
To motivate your employees and earn their loyalty, find out how you can meet their spoken and unspoken needs. People experience waning motivation for all kinds of reasons, from personal problems to boredom to disappointment that they are not being recognized for their work. It is your responsibility to work with your team members to make sure they get what they need to feel motivated at work.
Mentor Others
It is leaders’ responsibility to help your team members advance in their careers. Help your employees with professional development and career success, and you will win their respect and loyalty.
Being a good leader takes skills most people must work hard to learn. Begin working on your leadership skills as early as you can. Take the initiative to add as much value to your organization as possible. Discipline yourself, manage your time efficiently and work on developing your people skills. Soon, you’ll be a respected leader in your field.
About the Author: Contributing blogger Erika Pollak has occupied leadership positions for the past 15 years.
