What constitutes a good superior in detail is subjective. We all have different views on how the ideal boss should be. Also, different companies and organizations have different needs. And yet – in their core characteristics and abilities, good managers are usually similar. In the following, we have summarized these into 8 indispensable leadership qualities.
Conducting talent
Delegating tasks to employees or entire departments is one of the most important skills a manager should develop. It is well known that the quality of the output decreases with the increasing number of tasks that have to be mastered in everyday working life. It is therefore important both for one’s own stress level and for the quality of one’s work to give up tasks as a manager. Do you have a good team? Then show your trust in your employees and hand over responsibility.
Communication skills
Without clarity in language, humans are known to be just garden gnomes, Element of Crime have already explained this to us. And for a boss this is all the more true. Tasks must be communicated clearly and precisely. And the vision that everyone in the company is working towards together also needs to be brought to life both linguistically and emotionally. A leader inspires his team, can sweep it along and drives it to peak performance.
Honesty
Employees are the face of a company and they reflect the behaviour of their superiors. It is therefore up to you whether you create a culture of trust in which honest and ethical behaviour is desired and encouraged and in which your employees know that they can rely on you in times of crisis. Be clear in your expectations and act accordingly yourself.
Self-confidence
In times of uncertainty or failure, managers should not fall into panic and blind actionism. In these times it is particularly important to radiate stability and to continue to motivate your employees. Keep the focus, because a headless boss is no help to anyone.
Commitment
You expect maximum performance from your employees? That’s good, but it’s even better if you place this expectation first and foremost on yourself. Because nothing is more motivating than a boss who shows with great commitment how the team can conquer the world together.
A positive attitude
In phases with increased stress levels, the working atmosphere often suffers first. A positive boss has a cushioning effect here and manages not to let the mood change and to maintain motivation and productivity. If your team is happy to see you in the morning, you have certainly done nothing wrong.
Creativity
Being creative as a leader involves being able to make quick decisions. But it also means taking the time to review and evaluate all the important alternatives. Some decisions are more difficult than others and sometimes you have to deviate from the norm. This is exactly where you as a manager need and show your creativity.
Motivational talent
Working towards a common goal, sharing a vision, is important for employee motivation. But this motivation and enthusiasm also needs to be rewarded. Show appreciation for good performance and thank your employees for their efforts.
Methods to improve your leadership qualities
The prospect of reaching the top in their field motivates many people to work hard, perfect their skills and take on new projects. But at some point, career leaders need more than professional skills and a willingness to work hard. Social skills are in demand. One of the most important is the ability to take on a leadership role.
There are born leaders, but everyone can learn the necessary skills with some practice. If you want your career to take you to the top, you must be prepared to use all your strengths. These 9 strategies will help you improve your leadership skills and make a career.
Find out which leadership style suits you best: Which of these leadership styles is best for you?
Be disciplined
A good leader must be disciplined. Discipline in your professional (and private) life is absolutely necessary to be a successful leader and to motivate others to be disciplined as well. Your leadership qualities will be assessed based on your discipline.
Prove at work that you are disciplined by meeting deadlines and appointments and ending meetings on time. If you’re more of a chaotic type, you’ll find it harder, but you can start small: start good habits at home, such as getting up early and exercising every day. With these and other habits, you can gradually acquire more discipline.
Accept more projects
A wonderful way to develop your leadership skills is to take on more responsibility. Of course, you only have to accept as much as you can manage. If you want to grow beyond yourself, you should do more than just the tasks listed in your job description. To learn new things, you need to step out of your comfort zone. With this step, your bosses will perceive you as someone with initiative.
Learn to follow
A real boss has no problem leaving control to others when it is necessary. You shouldn’t feel threatened if someone disagrees with you, criticizes your opinion, or brings in their own. Be open and acknowledge achievements. This will not always be easy, but if you value and respect your team members, the team will be more likely to stand up for you.
Develop situational awareness
One characteristic of good leaders is their ability to see the bigger picture and anticipate problems before they arise. This is especially advantageous when executing complex projects with a tight deadline. Predicting potential problems and making suggestions to avoid them is invaluable for a team. With the same ability, you will also seize opportunities that others overlook, and you will definitely gain recognition.
Inspire others
As a leader you are part of a team and as a leader you should inspire and motivate everyone you work with to work as well as possible. If your team members need support or guidance, they are there to help. Sometimes employees just need someone who listens to them and is friendly to them.
Educate yourself further
The best way to become a good leader is always to learn something new. This will keep you mentally fit and your skills up to date. You will notice the benefits when you face a new challenge, a situation that is very promising for managers.
Delegate to your team members
You can’t be the best at everything. The sooner you understand that, the sooner you will learn to be a good leader. Delegating tasks not only gives you more time to devote to what you really do well, it also motivates others in your team.
Mediate conflicts
Not everyone will always have a good relationship with each other. Instead of ignoring conflicts between employees in the hope that they will resolve themselves, discuss the issue in private with those affected. You should also consider the possibility of reassigning team members if the conflict cannot be resolved.
Be an attentive listener
As an executive, you are not always in the limelight. A key ability of a good leader is to listen to and build on the suggestions, ideas and feedback of others. Good listeners know that communication is not just about words: Non-verbal signals such as eye contact and body language are at least as important.
Excellent leadership qualities are very important for making a career, but as you probably already know, leadership involves much more than just taking responsibility. As the American politician John Quincy Adams said: “You are a leader when your activities inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more”.