Starting a business is a concentrated experience. Everything you do is more immediate, more definitive, more tied to your eventual success.
It’s critical that you not only know your business but also understand leadership. That means real leadership, not some watered-down corporate version. Here are the five skills you need the most:
1. The skill of self-awareness
Success begins within. When you have a sense of who you are, it invites you to do something about it. Having self-awareness amounts to being better advised. The more you know yourself, the closer you can become to being all you can be.
2. The skill of business acumen–and then some
Success begins with keenness and quickness in understanding and dealing with a business situation in a manner that is likely to lead to a good outcome. In the competitive environment of business, being the best at what you do is good, making good decisions is great-;but a clear, comprehensive understanding of the business environment you’re operating in is invaluable.
3. The skill of relationship-building
Building lasting relationships is the cornerstone of all business success, and respect is at the heart of building business relationships. It is the glue that holds together the functioning of teams, partnerships, and managing relationships. Even with the best products and business practices, you still need strong relationships to succeed.
4. The ability to create an inspired culture
A culture of inspiration and motivation influences others to perform at their best. One of the most important assets of any enterprise and every business are the employees and its culture. Together they create a system of shared passion and commitment, which creates an environment that breeds, talent, growth, development, and creativity.
5. The skill of agility and adaptability
Adapting to change requires the willingness to manage change and to stay open to new ideas, it means to be adaptable to new situations, handle unexpected demands with aplomb, and be ready to pivot at any moment. To maneuver through changes is to learn to be adaptable and agile. So where do you stand with your leadership skills?
Ask yourself the following: What do I need to do to keep up with the pace of business with the increasing complexity of today’s workplace? What can I do today to hone in on my leadership skills to be successful?
There are many leadership skills and competencies that, when combined and applied, go toward making you an effective leader. It is best to remember you have the ability to develop each of these skills within yourself. It’s always up to you.
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
THE LEADERSHIP GAP
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.
Mrs Hyacinth Rowe
19. Jan, 2020
Having read a few of Lolly,s articles on Leadership I found them to be very interesting especially the one on ‘5 Leadership skills you must have to succeed.’ As a tutor that teaches leadership & management I would like to have a couple of Lolly’s books on the subject to add to my resources.