How to Take Leadership Action - Taking Leadership Action

Leadership is one of those unquantifiable human characteristics whose nature has baffled experts and the men on the street alike. In the past, many find themselves subscribing to the belief that leaders are born, not made. Various research on the subject, however, has thrown a serious challenge to it (Muse, 2019). It confirms what many see: having promising young talents with leadership qualities whose performance fizzle out in the end.

On the other hand, many have proven to be good leaders without showing any clues in the early stages of their lives. As it turns out, development is key. As real-life events show, many grow into positions of leadership. In the business world, they are able to motivate office and remote employees after extensive courses in developing their leadership qualities.

In this article, we shall take a look at exactly how to develop leadership skills and how to improve leadership skills, knowing the specific traits and knowledge for one to rise to the top and reach their potential as a leader.

What are leadership skills?
So, what exactly are leadership skills? These are the abilities and qualities that inspire, motivate and guide others. Leadership skills are valuable for anyone in a leadership role, whether that’s in the workplace, school or even in your community. 

A wide range of skills can make someone a good leader – from delegating tasks and projects to simply being a good communicator. 

Take the Initiative
Most bosses will only assign employees tasks they know they can do. That's why it's important to volunteer to take on more responsibilities while going above and beyond at your current position. Focus on learning competencies that fall outside your primary knowledge area.

Don't be complacent. Step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to improve. Remember, the more work you do, the more you are learning. Learning more and taking on more responsibility will eventually help move you into a leadership role at your workplace.

Also, others will more easily accept you as a leader when that day comes, because you will have established a track record of taking the initiative, being a student of learning, and using that newfound knowledge for making improvements.

Think Critically
To be hired for a high-profile job, you will need to be a critical thinker. Good leaders can foresee potential problems before they happen. They can also develop ways to prevent problems from happening.

Good leaders are also aware of potential opportunities and take advantage of them to benefit the company and employees. In other words, be proactive. Don't wait for things to happen; instead, anticipate them, and help the team be ready in case something goes wrong. If you're a leader and an employee brings a problem to your attention, help them determine the cause and put preventive measures in place to ensure it doesn't negatively impact the employees, the company, and the customers.

Listen Effectively
Communication skills are critical to being an effective leader, whether it's presenting in front of the team, creating and writing a business strategy, or communicating to employees and clients. One of the most important communication skills for a leader is listening. Without listening skills, you are not able to get feedback from others and get a sense of what team members like about the projects they work on.
Oftentimes, managers and leaders must hire people who specialize in certain tasks or specialties. Listening to your team of experts will help you understand what can and can't be done. Let them have a private discussion with you one-on-one if necessary, to voice any concerns so that you can move forward with everyone on the same page.

Feedback is key. To listen effectively, you need to maintain eye contact, avoid distractions, and respond appropriately. Keep in mind that communication is not just about verbal communication. Be aware of body language and gestures to determine what people are really saying.

Motivate Others
A true leader should positively influence people. When employees or coworkers lose their ambitions and passions, a true leader can energize and motivate them. How do leaders motivate people?

First, they know what people need and want. For example, if an employee loses motivation because they think their hard work is not being recognized, a good leader will talk to that person and offer the recognition that is deserved.

Sometimes, people lose their motivation because they are facing difficulties, are tired of doing the same repetitive tasks, or are disappointed they are not being asked to get involved. A good leader should seek out team members to see how they're doing, listen attentively, and empower them to be more involved in the process.

Creating a positive work environment is also a key motivating factor. Establish positive rewards for hitting benchmarks, such as a weekly new client goal or an error-free work week for a production area. Reward them with a Friday lunch or an afternoon of snacks and treats to help people decompress and know that they're appreciated.

The prospect of advancing to the top of one’s field makes it possible for many people to keep plugging away at their jobs, honing their skills, and taking on new projects. But after a certain point, career development depends on more than technical skills and a willingness to work hard. You also need a few soft skills, not the least of which is the ability to take on a leadership role.

Some people are natural leaders, but anyone can develop the skill set needed with some practice. If you want to take your career as far as possible, you must be willing to put in the work.