Strong Leadership
Strong leadership is always going to be one of the traits an employer looks for in their staff. Regardless of whether you’re in a leadership role or a support role, having the right mindset and skills to perform as a leader will set you aside from the rest and put you on the right path to career progression.
Imagine the future without strong leaders? Nothing would ever get done!
This is a concern shared by many companies, with HR and business leaders sharing that this is one of the biggest challenges faced when developing the future’s leaders.
Whether you’re looking to hire a leader or if you’re a candidate who wants to ensure they’re as appealing as possible for their next role, there’s three traits you should be aware of that ooze leadership.
Effective Communication
Whilst this trait is something that all employers are looking for, it really is important. Communication can make or break a business.
Think about how you express yourself to your colleagues. How do you handle conflict or provide feedback? How do you talk to other people? Do you actively listen?
Communication could be misinterpreted to focus solely on how someone addresses other people. But there’s more to it than that, it’s a two-way street. Communication is also about listening, interpreting and processing questions or requests and responding in a logical way.
If you’re in a leadership role, you must remain diplomatic and be able to communicate at all levels.
Teamwork
As the old saying goes, there’s no I in team. Will we ever grow bored of that one? Leadership is as much about taking the reins as it is collaborating with those around you.
Knowing when to take a step back and play on the strengths of your peers is as important as stepping in and maintaining control. Leaders should be able to identify when to delegate and pull on the expertise of a team, in order to get the best results for the business.
There’s nothing worse than someone in a position of power pretending to be an expert and micromanaging a team who really do know their onions. Being able to admit that you’re not an expert in all fields doesn’t detract from being a good leader, it simply means you prioritise humility over stubbornness.
On the flip side, someone who is to effectively collaborate and encourage a team needs to be confident and able to gain the respect of their colleagues. It’s all about balance.
Engagement
Leaders are naturally motivated people, so the best way to find out if someone is a leader or not is to ask what motivates them, what are their goals, what do they want to achieve in this role?
There’s often a twinkle in the eye of the best leaders, because they’re truly passionate about succeeding and growing.
When you’re looking for someone to join your team in a leadership role, they need to possess the same values and vision as your company as these core values are what they’ll be instilling in your team.
What key traits do you believe a leader should demonstrate? Leave a comment below and let us know.