From taking out the trash, going to work, being accountable to our friends, family and colleagues, leadership can be seen in all spheres of life. For progress to happen within each and every one of us, we must first practice the art of leadership and develop the entirety of skills that are needed to be a good leader. Good leadership skills can help better your communication, people management, time management and entrepreneurial skills.
One of the biggest reasons why everyone should try to develop good leadership skills is because people who are considered better leaders, then to be more valuable to their respective companies or jobs. When an employee or entrepreneur is seen as being more valuable and important, they tend to make a better salary than those who don't. They're ability to complete complex tasks, motivate, use strategic thinking and be the person in charge are all different reasons why they are wanted and needed in the world.
Essential leadership skills
Being a leader can be wide and complex. Here are several important leadership skills.
Open communication
A good leader keeps an open line of communication with team members and can succinctly explain organizational goals and tasks using different types of communication channels, such as one-on-one sessions, email, video, chat, phone calls and social media. An effective leader also shares clear messages and makes complex ideas easy to understand for everyone.
Empathy
Empathetic leadership focuses on identifying with others and understanding their perspective. Leaders who show empathy are successful because they can better understand how the employees feel about their work environment. This enables the leaders to bring positive changes to the workforce.
Strategic thinking
Leaders need strategic and critical thinking skills, as they are tasked with challenging decision-making. A strong leader makes well-researched and objectively scrutinized decisions that can lead an organization toward achieving its goals.
Creativity
A creative leader can brainstorm new ideas and inspire others toward creativity and innovation. For example, a successful leader will always recognize and reward employees for their creative input.
Positivity
A great leader brings positivity into the work environment, which in turn uplifts the employees and encourages them to perform better. Positivity can be cultivated by showing care, respect, diplomacy and empathy toward the team.
Flexibility
The best leaders get out of their comfort zones and quickly adapt to changing work conditions. They wear multiple hats and can problem solve and improvise on the fly. A successful leader also promotes employee engagement and is willing to accept constructive feedback from the team.
Conflict resolution
A great leader not only knows how to avoid conflicts in the workplace but can also resolve them in an efficient and timely manner. While resolving conflicts, the leader stays level-headed and decides analytically.
What is the definition of leadership?
"Here’s the thing about leadership that a lot of people either don’t understand or refuse to believe:
Everyone can be a leader.
There is no single answer to “What is leadership?” because it isn’t something you’re either born with or without, but a powerful skill that can be developed over time. Great leaders don’t follow a single path or personality type. In fact, you’ve probably taken on leadership roles in your life that you didn’t realize at the time. So what makes a good leader, really? And how can you sharpen those skills and put them to work for you in your career and your life?
Leadership is the ability to inspire a team to achieve a certain goal. It’s usually discussed in the context of business, but leadership is also how you, as an individual, choose to lead your life. The definition of leadership is to influence, inspire and help others become their best selves, building their skills and achieving goals along the way. You don’t have to be a CEO, manager or even a team lead to be a leader. Leadership is a set of skills – and a certain psychology – that anyone can master.
Leadership is not a zero-sum equation. When one person harnesses their powers to lead, it strengthens the leadership opportunities of others, rather than diminishing them. That’s because the ultimate definition of leadership is empowering others to become effective leaders as well. That’s why many iconic leaders have incredible mentors they cite for their success. As one person begins to embrace their role as a leader, they inevitably connect with others who have already mastered the art of leadership."
- Tony Robbins
What are the steps to become a good leader?
In reality they’re can be many different steps in becoming a good leader, but they're are 2 essential steps that one must experience in order for them to develop foundational leadership skills for life.
Self: The first step in becoming a leader is to first work on yourself. In this first chapter we will look at 4 easy tasks that you can do daily and weekly that can develop your leadership skills.
Others: Once you can become accountable to yourself, the goal as a leader is to transcend self and transmit your knowledge to those around you so they themselves can become leaders.
Working on yourself is the first step of proper leadership
The first step in developing proper leadership skills is working on yourself as a person.
Here are certains skills you need to develop:
(1)Know how to listen
In order to understand all aspects of a situation, leaders must listen first. You can develop this trade by listening to family members, friends, podcasts, documentaries and then question yourself to see if you remember the key points.
(2)Manage your emotions
Leaders have to stay precise and accurate with their thoughts, not letting outside noise effect their decisions. Try managing your emotions by meditating, doing breath work, working out and seeking help with a therapist.
(3) Build positive habits
Start with small tasks, build little habits into your life that become the foundation for your success. The key here is to identify positive habits you can maintain on an ongoing basis. Start by writing down a small to do list daily and sticking to good habits like training consistently and sleeping early and scale from there.
(4)Let go of the ego
Leaders leave their ego out the door when it comes to their decision making. The ability to look past your own ego and see the impact your decisions have on others will set you apart as a leader. This skill is also largely rooted in developing a strong sense of empathy.
Passing it on to others
Empathetic and committed leadership is leadership that can understand different points of view in the workplace and respect opinions; however, they may be contrary to yours. Empathetic leadership tries to show the best of the employee, but with respect for his abilities and limits.
Simply put, empathetic leadership means being aware of people's feelings and thoughts, understanding their needs, providing appropriate support, and understanding how they handle situations and trying to improve or respond to them.
The secret lies in the general concept of empathetic leadership, committed to putting yourself in your employee's shoes and living their condition. Thus, realising the impact of emotion on those actions and tasks. It (i.e. Empathetic leadership) relies on emotional intelligence skills to build a working relationship based on genuine trust.
Proper communication
A key for transmitting knowledge In practice, it involves delivering a shared vision and inspiring others to buy into that vision. It is describing the values inherent to the company and showing how the company is living up to that promise. With clear communication, leaders can navigate their organization through all types of changes, big or small. Leadership communication also builds trust within the organization, both between leaders and employees and between employees and the organization itself. By clarifying company culture and structure, it helps employees to align better within the organization. This communication then inspires open dialogue throughout the company, promotes collaboration, teamwork, and honest feedback. Finally, it helps prevent miscommunications within the organization and ensures that all employees are kept up to date with important information.
Learning from great leaders
Great leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Since the beginning of agricultural societies, there have been countless stories of great leaders and their heroics, let's take a look at some of them.
Abraham Lincoln
As the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln is most celebrated for his role in keeping the nation together during the Civil War and signing the Emancipation Proclamation, which helped to end slavery in the United States.
His leadership exemplified determination and is a reminder that great leaders must remain persistent, even when others do not believe in your vision as a leader.
Lincoln’s personal qualities enabled him to form friendships with men who had previously opposed him. He consistently found ways to find a common ground with those who opposed him. Lincoln saw mistakes made by those on his team as his responsibility.
Oprah Winfrey
During a time when women were not readily embraced in the entertainment industry, Oprah Winfrey overcame humble beginnings to build an empire.
Oprah Winfrey is best known for The Oprah Winfrey Show, which has won multiple Emmy Awards, is broadcast in 145 countries and has been called the most successful daytime TV program in history.
She has also received Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for her role as Sofia in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple and launched her own network – OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network – in January 2011. Her influence on culture by celebrating the success of others is a reminder that great leaders surround themselves with individuals who embody their values and are also striving for success.
Stephen Hawking
Diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 21, he would spend most of his life severely disabled to the point where he controls his communication device through movement of his cheek muscles.
Despite his debilitating condition, Hawking became arguably the most well-known theoretical physicist since Albert Einstein. Hawking is known for his groundbreaking work on cosmology, quantum physics and black holes.
Hawking’s attitude comes from his sheer refusal to make excuses for his disabilities. His ex-wife Jane Hawking attributed his outlook on the world to a combination of determination, stubbornness and positivity. As Hawking clearly demonstrates, both traits have their pedigree.
Conclusion: Becoming a leader in a rapidly changing world
The world is always changing.
With the presence of social media, internet, social changes and AI, the world we knew 10 years ago, no longer exists.
We need all of us to build leadership qualities so we can withstand the changing landscape and adapt to the our new realities.
We cannot go against the current, we must become part of the wave. Use the power of social media, AI and technology to promote good causes, leadership and positive actions to change the world.
Remember...
A better tomorrow starts with… YOU
Love and peace
Fullbody Athletics
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