6 skills of a successful leader

“I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.” – Queen Elizabeth II

The strengths of a leader can directly influence the success of a team as a whole. They are not always the most outspoken or the biggest extrovert, but a number of traits and skills equate to being a successful leader.

What are the skills that make a successful leader and what traits make a good leader, great?

Communication

One of the fundamental skills of a successful leader is to be a good communicator. Whether it is conveying positive feedback, providing constructive criticism or dealing with behavioural issues with other team members, a successful leader will be able to communicate in a clear and concise way with relative ease.

Positivity

A positive outlook can go a long way. Those who are able to speak with optimism and have a positive attitude when things get difficult make the best leaders. In addition, those who seek out positivity in challenging situations are usually able to maintain composure when under pressure.

Motivation

Motivation is a key skill for success in any role, but is particularly important to a leadership role. A motivated leader inspires consistent, positive behaviour in others and that has a beneficial impact on the team as a whole. A motivated team are able to achieve great things.

Feedback

The ability to give constructive feedback is an important aspect of leadership. Alarmingly, a recent study revealed that 58% of managers surveyed had not received any management training. As a key aspect of a leadership role, there is no doubt that the skills involved in giving constructive feedback develop with training and as a result, this lack of training is having a knock-on effect on staff engagement. A study by Officevibe revealed, 43% of highly engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week as opposed to 18% of low engagement employees.

Integrity

The definition of Integrity is ‘the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles’ and is an important skill for any successful leader. Leaders stand up for what they believe in, and as a result earn the respect of their peers and colleagues.

Problem Solver

In a role that is fraught with issues that need resolution, problem solving is essential to the success of a leader. Remaining calm in a crisis, an analytical mind and composure are fundamental to  the success of a leader.

What traits do you think make a great leader? Let us know at [email protected]