Being viewed or referred to as a ‘leader’ or ‘future leader’ in any establishment is a major sign of how well-regarded you are as an employee. However, while a leader may or may not be a manager, being a manager doesn’t instantly make one a leader.

A manager fills a role in an organisation and performs their functions (i.e. planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling) to achieve company goals. A leader, meanwhile, is someone who motivates and inspires people to work together and helps them to become invested in a goal or cause. This is why a manager can only be successful and effective if they possess the requisite leadership skills. 

You can actually become a leader at any point in your career. However, to be genuinely effective, you must have the following five key leadership skills.

1. Critical thinking

Your capacity to assess and reflect upon difficult issues and situations is crucial to being a good leader. You can develop this quality through education. The more knowledge you have, the better you will be at analysing situations, dealing with a range of issues, proposing solutions and asking questions. You’ll also be making better decisions for your employees and your business.

2. Decisiveness

Leaders are frequently confronted by situations that require them to make snap decisions and defend these to their superiors, subordinates and other employees. Leaders who can rise to the occasion and make the right choices under time pressure can inspire confidence in others.

3. Integrity

The need for ethics and honesty in the workplace is ever-present. Being a leader requires having integrity that commands the respect of both subordinates and superiors. Having integrity aids in developing credibility and loyalty among those in your sphere of influence — something that’s crucial to your overall success.

4. Motivation

The ability to influence and inspire others is a quality shared by all great leaders, so if you’re in charge of managing people, you must understand what drives them. This way, you can tap into their strengths and sources of motivation to move them to act in unison and achieve goals.

5. Team building

Your team-building abilities can also significantly contribute to fostering unity and harmony at work. You’ll need to collaborate with each other and be open to different ideas. If you understand what inspires your team members, it’ll be easier for you to work together, finish projects and attain objectives.

Growing as a leader takes commitment and a conscious desire to learn the required leadership skills. You can do this through training, education and constant practice.

If this article has inspired you to think about your own unique situation and, more importantly, what you and your family are going through right now, please contact your advice professional.

This information does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any person. Before making a decision, you should consider whether it is appropriate in light of your particular objectives, financial situation or needs.

(Feedsy Exclusive)