Leadership forms the foundation of every team, and there are particular qualities in effective leaders that help their teams achieve the intended goals. Leadership qualities are a broad concept that includes many different qualities such as interpersonal communication, understanding, decision making, and issue solving. In this blog, we’ll explore the most critical factors in developing strong leadership skills and competing to win with your team.
Develop Clear Communication
It is common knowledge that communication ability is a basic leadership competency. This means as the leader, you need to illustrate what you want done, guidelines on how to get them done, and what you have to say about the work done. A Gallup study shows that in organizations where there is employees’ engagement, the overall business profitability is 21 percent higher most probably because of the appearance of an enormous chain of communication between the employees and employers. Remember, when people don’t communicate properly, they have misconceptions that create confusion and possibly idle time.
This is important when explaining anything whether it is making it clear, and concise and making sure that all the team members are aware of what is required of them. Another important component also that should not be overlooked in the process of decoding communication is the activity listening which lets the team members come up with their opinions and feedback.
Encourage Collaboration and Teamwork
Great managers understand that it’s not all about them or them alone who will make a project successful; it is the team effort. Good leadership practice is evident when leaders facilitate an atmosphere whereby all members of the team can work together and call on each other to find solutions. Stanford University’s study showed that working with other people enhances productivity by up to 64%. As a result, making teamwork a principle is central to the achievement of organizational objectives in a shorter and more effective period.
I believe that elements that should be fostered are openness and the willingness of the employees to express their views and contributions. This will give people ownership and make them work hard to achieve these set goals and objectives.
Be Adaptable and Open to Change
Flexibility may well be the single greatest leadership competence as the world continues to move at an increasingly rapid pace. The potential to modify strategies and tactics poses a vital criterion since it helps in achieving an organization’s goals as follows: Research made by Harvard Business Review has indicated that firms with responsive leadership always achieve 13 better than firms that experience slow-moving environments.
Also being receptive to change means embracing feedback from the rest of the team or any other external agent with an intention of changing. It will also lead to the development of better leadership competencies within you and improved performance among the team.
Lead and Inspire Your Staff
Management consultants argue that leaders who delegate work assign responsibilities and provide their employees with the required authority improve the level of employees’ satisfaction with their jobs. The APA study revealed that CPS was strongly linked with affective commitment, which implies that empowered workers are 67% more involved in their operations and are willing to work harder. An effective part of leadership skills is empowering because it creates confidence, encourages creativity, and takes responsibility among the team members.
Motivation does not end with a delegation of tasks, it also entails acknowledging the effort of your team and rewarding their efforts whether big or small. This raises the morale levels and keeps everyone on the team straining towards the success line.
Lead by Example
Among the most important skills of leaders is called the practice, or as it is also called – leadership by example. Your team relies on you, and the things you do are the things that define the rest of the group. If you act with integrity and passion for what you do, your team will also perform with integrity and passion. Another study, from the Global Leadership Forecast shows that 83 percent of the employees responding that they have great leadership are likely to embrace high performance.
Thus, when you become the type of team member your team needs, people learn to trust you, respect you, and esteem your expertise as valid and indispensable for getting the job done.
Conclusion
Leading a team to success requires a blend of effective leadership skills that center around communication, collaboration, adaptability, empowerment, and leading by example. By honing these skills and continuously refining them, you’ll be well-equipped to drive your team toward success and foster an environment where each member thrives. Leadership is not a one-size-fits-all role; it’s about understanding your team’s dynamics, learning from experiences, and evolving to meet challenges head-on.