The effective leader works hard at building and maintaining key leadership competencies which they use every day to do their job. A competency is not a natural attribute such as a personality style or skill. It is something which is practiced or learned that is used to influence others in a positive way. Here are the key competencies that effective leaders possess.
Influence Others: A leader will get others to act in a desired manner and will build mutual respect from their staff. They do this by giving directions, goals and expectations in an appropriate manner. They are open to new ideas and listen actively to others. They reinforce the attitude, behavior and performance they expect in others.
Accountability: By building a culture of accountability, a leader shows his commitment to results. They use fair processes and defined action plans for sharing workload. They are quick to praise for deadlines being met and will take positive corrective action when needed.
Positive Environment: Leaders should always work on building a network of positive working relationships, both internally with staff and other departments, as well as with clients and customers. They demonstrate respect for others in words and actions. They build a positive culture by using various methods and techniques, and always keep the lines of communication open. This will ensure common goals are met.
Coaching: A leader is a coach by working with each team member on their desired performance. They assure each staff member is contributing positively to the team dynamic. They offer help when needed, and deliver praise often. They learn each member’s strengths, areas for improvement, and learning style in order to hold effective and motivating coaching sessions.
Communication: At the core of all competencies is one factor – the ability to communicate on a consistent basis. A leader uses different methods depending on the given task. A leader holds meetings only when necessary and assures the agenda is meaningful. Above all, they listen and respond quickly to team members’ needs or concerns.
Works Effectively: A successful leader plans the team’s workload, assuring that key tasks are prioritized and delegated to the right person. They organize and build good working processes, anticipating obstacles. This will ensure the team has a clear focus and direction to follow. Above all, a leader knows how to adapt to changing business priorities.
Team First: A Leader must build a high performing team. All of the above competencies are important to ensure the team will achieve the desired results. A great leader leads by example, knows the importance of motivation, communication and accountability. Think and act like a leader, and the rest will follow.