Effective leaders can be inspirational figures within any organisation, capable of delivering change and driving teams to meet ambitious goals. Whether it’s in the sporting field, politics, or business, leadership matters. If you’re caught in an emergency or simply want your organisation to become more efficient at delivering its key goals, then a competent and inspiring leader is a critical component.
Opinions on what makes an effective leader have changed over time, with what was relevant fifty years ago, not always being so applicable today. While certain personal qualities may be perennial, effective leadership takes more than just having a set of indefinable qualities.
While there is no foolproof handbook on how to be an effective leader, there are habits, practices, and development techniques that can enhance your skills and competencies. Leadership typically combines a range of skills, traits, behaviours, and strategic thinking, to deliver success.
What makes an effective leader and how can leaders and potential leaders improve their skills, grow in confidence, and become more effective?
Understanding strengths and gaps
Leaders and potential leaders should have an accurate understanding of their skills and current strengths. Leadership assessment is the process through which an individual’s current capabilities and potential are evaluated. It helps to identify existing areas of strength, and those areas that may need development, to ensure that leaders are well-positioned to achieve their goals.
Some of the skills that leadership assessment tools will typically evaluate include:
Self-awareness and Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
Effective leaders must have an understanding of their own motivations and reactions, enabling them to recognise how their behaviour impacts others. Emotional intelligence helps them to navigate complex social situations, effectively manage relationships and handle conflict.
Problem-solving and strategic thinking
There is more effective leadership than day-to-day management. When considering what makes an effective leader, strategic thinking and decision-making skills will play a key part. Leaders should have the capacity for critical thinking, to help plan and execute effective strategies for future success.
Communication
Leaders not only need to be able to communicate clearly, they also need to be persuasive. Through effective communication leaders inspire trust, helping to align teams toward shared goals. If you have a vision for the future of the organisation, you need to be able to communicate it effectively.
Adaptability and resilience
Change is a feature of modern organisational life, so an effective leader needs to be resilient in the face of setbacks. They should also be flexible enough to change in uncertain environments, facing ambiguity and disruption with clarity and a sense of purpose.
Cultivating essential skills
Continuous learning, experience, and mentoring all play a vital role in delivering effective leaders. Leadership development programs should reflect the unique needs of the individual learner, focusing on both the hard and soft skills that are required to lead successfully.
Anyone wanting to know how to be an effective leader will first need to focus on the core leadership competencies of decision-making, conflict resolution, strategic vision, and team management.
Leaders should also look to develop their skills in people management, approaches to inclusion, and ethical approaches to their leadership role. They should have a strong capacity to manage themselves and their time, knowing when to take the lead, and when to step back.
Different individuals will require different training and development to help them fill in the gaps in their leadership skills and capabilities. Ensuring that leaders receive the right training begins with effective assessment, with both elements being revisited regularly.
Developing your own leadership style
There is no single answer to the question of what makes an effective leader. Leadership styles are highly individual, with effective leaders often developing a distinctive style over time. Leadership styles are influenced by an individual’s personality and the organisation within which they work.
Working with experts who provide an individualised approach to leadership development can be highly effective at developing core skills while encouraging individual competencies and approaches that deliver results.
Achieve your leadership goals with Leadership Success
At Leadership Success, we have a proven track record of enabling leaders to become more effective. With a personalised approach to assessment and development, our experts come from a range of backgrounds, each bringing their own perspective to leadership. They provide transformative insight, support, and mentoring to help leaders achieve their goals.
If you’d like to learn more about leadership assessment and development, our experienced team of experts are available to help.
Contact us to find out more about our library of assessments and our leadership development programmes
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