Leadership skills: what are the essential qualities of a good leader?

Leaders aren't always born ready-made, after all. leadership skills They must be learned and improved every day.

What makes a good leader? A strong voice? No, leadership skills!

You've probably heard many times that a good leader is one who never faces challenges, as they have the utmost respect from their team.

However, it's important to say that this view is somewhat outdated, since the concepts of leadership have undergone some changes over time.

The main point is that a leader doesn't work alone, nor should they be the sole reference point for their team. In fact, a good manager is one who provides the conditions and training so that each talented member of the group can achieve autonomy and prominence.

So, if having a commanding voice isn't enough to lead, what is? Simple: leadership skills.

Note that we are speaking in the plural, so simply having an active voice or a serious profile that commands respect (and by respect we mean the silence of the team) is not enough.

That's because what truly makes a good leader is the ability to manage a team in an organized, respectful, and high-performing manner, which requires a great deal of preparation.

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5 essential leadership skills for the job market

Many people aspire to leadership positions thinking only about... power That's what it entails, but the truth is that being a leader isn't about that.

Furthermore, exercising power with a focus on achieving one's own desires and pursuing projects with a singular vision goes against the concept of leadership, since it does not involve teamwork.

We began this material by discussing how a good leader takes on a greater share of the responsibilities and a smaller share of the achievements. This suggests that this role doesn't usually come with particular recognition.

A good team manager is one who can draw out talent, collaboration, and ideas from the group that contribute to the success of the project.

To achieve this result, certain leadership skills are necessary, and that's precisely what we'll be discussing now.

1. Skills in giving feedback

Making mistakes when providing feedback is one of the main causes of conflict and lack of team engagement.

And sometimes, the manager believes they are providing good feedback, but they did so in a way that led the employee to believe their work is incorrect or insufficient.

I once read an account from a professional who started looking for a job immediately after receiving periodic feedback. In his opinion, the company was dissatisfied with his work because the manager only pointed out areas for improvement.

“Giving constructive feedback is not just a skill, it’s an art that involves empathy, clarity, and a genuine desire to help the other person grow.”

The thing is, that wasn't the team leader's intention, and in fact, he really liked the professional's work; he just didn't realize that only mentioning areas for improvement, without any praise, would give a negative impression.

Therefore, this example demonstrates how the leader must take responsibility for providing accurate feedback, as inadequate communication can lead to misinterpretation, which directly impacts team performance.

2. Active listening – the most important of leadership skills.

In leadership talks, it's common to hear the phrase "a good leader is not the one who talks the most, but the one who listens best."

This statement makes sense if we remember the last part of the idea we've been discussing from the beginning ("a leader should own a smaller share of the results"), which actually means that a good manager shouldn't be the protagonist.

Therefore, the only way to let go of this sense of being the protagonist is through developing the skill of active listening.

This is because this skill allows you to listen to, value, and act on the ideas and opinions of other talented members of the team.

This makes it easier to develop talent, value it, and propel it towards autonomy and success.

Among leadership skills, this is perhaps the most important of all.

3. Conflict Management

Wanting to be a leader without being prepared for conflict is a fanciful idea; after all, no matter how good a manager is, disagreements are common in teamwork.

That said, among leadership skills, conflict management is very important, as it ensures that the team remains united and functional.

And those who believe that a good leader is one who possesses the best political skills or is a good guy are mistaken.

In fact, these attitudes often increase harmful competition within the team and sweep problems under the rug instead of solving them.

"True leadership is revealed in the ability to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and mutual understanding."

Therefore, the recommendation is that you seek training for this type of problem-solving, and don't shy away from experience, because only in this way is it possible to fully develop the skill.

4. Organization and commitment to deadlines

Although many professionals fit this profile, a good leader is not one who does virtually all the work alone and treats the team as mere assistants.

In reality, an excellent manager is one who offers each employee the opportunity to perform their work autonomously, while taking on the responsibility of organizing and managing deadlines.

Notice that in this model the manager is not taking on everything, and allows the team to develop skills, responsibility, and move forward on their own.

But for this to truly work, a good leader must act in a way that ensures processes function in an organized manner and within the stipulated deadlines.

That's because, when it comes to leadership skills, it's the manager who should be in a supportive position, not the employee.

5. Talent Recognition

If you want to be a manager because you believe you do the job better than everyone else, or that you deserve it more than the entire team, it's worth reconsidering that idea.

This is because a leader who believes only in their own talent and values only their own competence ends up acting like a boss in practice, since they have enormous difficulty in providing opportunities for the team to grow.

“Recognizing talent is the ability to see potential where others see only the ordinary, valuing the unique skills that each individual brings to the team.”

Therefore, among leadership skills, talent recognition is something that should be part of the profile and way of working.

We are not saying that a leader should not prioritize their own development, or that they should devalue their own skills in order to elevate others.

But remember that the manager's role is to elevate the team and value talent, not to make the team work for themselves and their own personal goals.

Finally, now that you know the main leadership skills, seek to train them to ensure a sharp profile for the job market!

You might be interested in this: Market Analysis: How to Identify Business Opportunities (oadministrador.com).

Roberta

I am a member of the O Administrador team and I produce content about career, personal finance, financial education, productivity, and professional development. My goal is to share clear and practical information to help readers with their day-to-day decisions.

August 30, 2024

Career