How to Develop Strong Leadership Skills

Some of us frequently think that leaders are born, not made. But, can leadership skills be acquired? While some leaders have the necessary leadership qualities, others may struggle to enhance their quality. Regardless of your position or industry, developing leadership abilities is for the company's success. The sustainability of every company strongly depends on its leadership's capacity to create effective strategic plans, how respond to challenges and develop future leaders. A great leader will encourage innovation, and creativity, and has a strong drive for business expansion. There are several types of leadership, including:

1. Transformational leadership: In organizations and sectors that strongly emphasize growth, transformational leadership is typical. But to successfully implement it, senior executives must show through their own behavior that they are committed to innovation and workforce independence. The trust that managers have in their staff must be reflected in the corporate culture, and top leaders must every day demonstrate the same innovation and openness to new ideas that they encourage in their staff. The four characteristics of transformational leadership are idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized concern (Bernard Bass)

2. Autocratic Leadership: In certain businesses, the boss will manage all the decisions by himself. Authoritarian leadership, also known as autocratic leadership, places full decision-making power in the hands of one person with little to no input from others. Depending on the task at hand, the goals, and the talents and experience of the group members, this style may be the most effective in specific short-term scenarios.

3. Democratic Leadership: Group involvement is the essence of democratic leadership, which explains why this leadership stance is also known as participatory leadership. This method relies on equality among group members, open communication, and discussion; the leader serves as the moderator, directing and overseeing group activities.

In 2023, it is expected that 10,000 Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 - 1964) will reach retirement age and be replaced by people who are capable of carrying on their legacy. Therefore, every organization should have effective and well-considered leadership development plans. Here are the effective strategies to develop leadership skills for the next future leaders.

Focus on Building Soft Skills

Leaders and CEOs prioritize technical skills for the next leaders. The C-suite should have the abilities necessary to perform their jobs, but their development should go beyond position-specific competencies. Therefore, leaders must be able to cultivate the soft skills needed by future leaders. The soft skills that a leader should develop include communication skills, discipline, conflict resolution, responsibility, how to inspire others, team empowerment, continuous learning, and a positive attitude.

Micro-development Opportunities

Soft skills need to be developed on a daily basis, including organizing internal events such as networking events, special short-term projects, or committee positions. These opportunities will allow the managers to gradually identify the importance of having a great leader.

Implement Leadership KPIs

Establish a leadership development KPI for each manager or head so they may monitor their goals and metrics. Evaluate their performance and try to recognize their accomplishments and support their efforts by supplying the appropriate resources.

Mentoring and Training Program

It is essential to provide future leaders with training and mentoring programs that enable them to build strong leadership skills faster. The finest support for your future leaders could come from those figures in positions of authority. The C-Suite figures can be the mentor of the candidates, which will continue his legacy. This is essential, especially to prepare the knowledge before starting the position. On the other hand, training by third parties is crucial. This is useful to identify the skills gaps of the candidates objectively and the strategy to anticipate them.

Keep Learning

To support a leadership mindset, foster lifelong learning and growth. Create a formal program that enables individuals to continuously advance their knowledge and abilities. Managers and staff members should feel empowered to take the initiative and look for opportunities for advancement and more difficult tasks.

Want to know more? Join our inspiring training program Leadership Vibes, and develop stronger leadership skills!