“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”
~ Harvey Firestone
What makes an extraordinary leader? This question has a topic of millions of conversations throughout the ages. However, multiple schools of thought agree that a strong leader is well versed in promoting strengths, diminishing their weakness, and owns a high level of integrity and knowledge.
There exist varying degrees of leadership skills that an individual should own depending on the type of commander they aspire to be. The type of industry and the company culture also impacts the required leadership talents. But overall, the following leadership qualities should be a part of every business leader’s skill set:
Razor Sharp Focus
Every day, the head of a successful company manages and manipulates a wide array of plans and tasks that affect the future of their business. Focusing on important decisions and learning to ignore the little details that clog up decision-making is what allows some individuals raise the ranks as a real leader.
A leader should be able to focus on long and short-term goals and how current decisions will affect future results. A leader not only concentrates on what is important to the shareholders, but the entire vision of the organization as a whole as well as the company’s employees.
Confidence In Yourself And Others
A great leader not only believes in their abilities to manage and steer a business down a successful path but that they can inspire and instill confidence in others as well. Nurturing, promoting, and supporting employees leads to real teamwork.
As a leader, one should encourage others to aspire to be a better version of themselves for the good of the entire organization. Bringing out the best in their employees will enhance company success with higher productivity levels and longer retention rates.
Listening And Reasoning Skills
To effectively lead a group of individuals, one must the take time to listen to other points of view and really consider the other side to a solution or a dilemma. A strong leader will have the humility to realize and admit they don’t know everything and seek to earn the respect of people from all sides of the aisle. In turn the leader receives an abundance of knowledge and insight that helps with decision-making. A real leader will listen to all sides of a proposal or objection.
Courage
There are many examples of brave and courageous leaders throughout history. They slayed the dragons, led their people out of harm’s way, or provided cities and states with jobs.
Today’s leaders don’t necessarily need dragon slaying skills, but they should possess the courage to make the tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. A bold leader knows when it’s time to go out on a limb, to stick to their principles for the good of the business, and to race or decline innovation when necessary.
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