The modern workplace has seen many new trends and shifts come and go. Be it the entry of computers, the increasing diversity of the workforce, the embracing of the ‘causal’ culture, the breaking of orthodox hierarchies, or most recently, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). Amidst all this churn and change, one thing has remained constant: the importance of good leadership.
Good leaders can often have a seismic impact on an organization’s culture, efficiency, morale, as well as performance. While the role of a leader may look different across every sector – whether it’s running an online business or completing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership online and becoming a School Principal, there is undeniably some set of specific traits and skill sets that can help people transition from good to great leaders.
1. Strong Communication
Undoubtedly the elephant in the room, communication can make or break leaders. Every good leader worth their salt should know how to articulate their thoughts and ideas succinctly. The team members should have a good grip on what is to be done, what the desired levels of output are, and when the deadline is. Communication also comes in handy in resolving internal differences and motivating the workforce in times of crisis.
2. Management
Another important aspect of leadership is assigning the right task to the right person at the right time. Leaders should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their team members. After analyzing the task at hand, roles should be assigned appropriately based on the same. It is also useful in knowing what deeply motivates an employee. For some, it could be monetary rewards whereas for others, it could be recognition and respect. Getting a pulse on the same could help in maximizing an individual’s potential. Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, chronicled in his book ‘Shoe Dog’ about the importance of finding the right people in the early days of the company and giving them the right jobs.
3. Active Listening
Good listening refers to not merely paying attention but also aptly responding on cue. Being an active listener can be a huge asset for a leader. It can help in identifying the right pain points of juniors and zeroing in on the right kind of targets after a conversation with the seniors. Being an attentive listener can also be beneficial when liaising and negotiating with external stakeholders like suppliers, customers, as well as bankers.
4. Emotional Intelligence
While often disregarded as an afterthought, emotionally intelligent leaders tend to do well in the long run. Leaders with high EQ (Emotional Quotient) can read the room better and adapt their messaging accordingly. For instance, if they can sense that their teammate is getting nervous, they can reassure the person and try to instil some confidence. This can be especially handy when the going gets tough and there is a sense of despondence in the air. Emotionally intelligent leaders can also keep their own feelings under control, acting rationally and with a clear head in tough times.
5. Vision
A leader without great long-term vision is like a high-budget movie with a subpar plot. Leaders having a grand vision of the future (and the ability to communicate the same) can rally the troops and sustain a highly productive environment for a long time at the workplace. It is vital that the vision is realistic, attainable and not too abstract for it to have the desired effect. Steve Jobs famously created a siege mentality at Apple, launching one revolutionary product after the other after painting a tech utopia for his team.
6. Strategic Thinking
Being a sharp thinker can help leaders aim for their goals better. While there is no set playbook to master the skill of strategic thinking, it can be cultivated by being a sharp observer and having a growth mindset. Strategic thinkers can sense opportunities before they become obvious and detect threats before they do real damage. Satya Nadella is a great example of a good strategic thinker, steering a behemoth the size of Microsoft to growth again after a series of false acquisitions and pivots. His move towards cloud computing and AI has made the company relevant again.
While these attributes and skills may seem hard to master, they can be learnt through observation, perseverance, and practice. Communication can help put the ideas across. Man management can enable the optimum utilization of individuals. Active listening can be a great asset in understanding the crux of the issue. High EQ can make leaders more empathetic and composed. Vision, combined with strategic thinking, can lead to the identification of moonshot opportunities and proper execution to grab the same.
