What is strong leadership? 5 ways to improve leadership skills

Posted by jaques montegolifier on April 22nd, 2019

Many businesses today have serious leadership issues. Managers turn into leaders without proper training. Some are made leaders when they are not ready. Precisely why leadership skills training has become a priority in organizations. However, team members do not trust the leaders easily.

Who is a strong leader?

They are the ones who propel the organizations and careers forward. Strong leaders can transform the company, improve communication, increase efficiency, and boost employee retention. They use the resource in hand and delegate them, solve problems, and drive the company towards its goals. Great leaders do not consider the surroundings, industry, or genre; they adapt and support the teams to succeed.

How to improve leadership skills?

Leadership skills training has coaches who teach you the following lessons:

1)      Leadership style: It is how you direct, motivate and get the plans implemented. Everyone boasts of different leadership style. Some are assertive while others are forceful. If you want to understand which style you fit under, you have to conduct self-reflection and ask the following questions:

• How do the staff describe your behavior?
• How often do you praise vs the criticisms?
• Do your actions and words align?
• How does your presence affect team morale?
• Transparency with your team members and vice versa

2)      Skill gaps: The best way to become an effective leader is to identify your weaknesses and the areas you would want to improve. If you are a great writer but struggle with public speaking, then take up a public speaking course as well. You could also face difficulty in managing conflicts. Therefore, it is essential to tackle skill gaps and grow your confidence as a leader.

3)      Improve communication: Leadership skills training is incomplete without proper communication. Poor communication could bring down your image as a stellar employee. You maybe natural during conversations but clam when it comes to giving a presentation. Identifying when and where you want to improve could help you select the right coaching option.

4)      Constructive feedback: Feedbacks are essential to improve performance. It enhances self-awareness and offers guidance. Feedbacks are also a form of encouragement. A great leader should not just provide positive feedback but also receive them. Some of the elements of constructive and useful criticisms are:

• Specific and descriptive: Do not offer vague comments. Stick to the issue and speak with precision and direct language to avoid misinterpretation
• Address issues, not individuals: Do not make it personal. Frame the input around the problem and not the individual
• Collaborative: Ensure the inputs are conversational and not in monologue form

5)      Decision-making skills: Leaders always come across tough decisions. These pertain to everyday tasks to strategic decisions. It is a critical aspect of every business. Leaders should possess a blend of logic, intuition, and analysis.