Today’s topic is the most important leadership qualities employers are looking for – and derailers to avoid.

As you can imagine, every source I reviewed for this episode had a slightly different list and number of qualities, so I’ve attempted to synthesize a few sources into my list of leadership qualities for leading an organization, leading others, and leading yourself.

I’ve also given you a major leadership derailer.

Leadership Skills for Leading the Organization:

My ask for this section is for you to identify one leadership skill you would like to work on for the next 90 days and create a measurable goal. Create some specific action steps and calendar them in; also set aside time at the end of the 90 days to evaluate your progress. You can choose one from any of the three categories – leading the organization, leading others, or leading yourself.

1.    Decision-Making Skills & Decisiveness

Leaders make informed decisions quickly – no waffling or second-guessing allowed. They are able to see the potential outcomes of various options to make the best decision in that circumstance.

2.    Adaptability

Strong leaders are able to navigate through uncertainty in today’s rapidly changing business world. This is the flip side of decisiveness – the ability to recognize when circumstances require a mid-course correction…or when a decision made wasn’t the right one.

3.    Integrity and Ethics

We can argue that there are plenty of employers in the news every week that seem to be operating with a lack of integrity and ethics – however, I don’t think those are the companies any of you want to work for. Rather, excellent employers value leaders who are honest, loyal, have integrity, and operate in an ethical manner – all of which fosters the trust so important in business.

4.    Strategic Thinking

Great leaders don’t spend the majority of their time putting out fires; rather, they are playing a key role in setting and communicating the organization’s mission, vision, and goals. They also have the ability to formulate and execute a strategic plan to achieve those goals.

5.    Problem-Solving Skills

Success in organizations requires the ability to identify and solve complex problems within a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Effective leaders are able to foster this culture and address potential or actual problems.

6.    Change Management

Effective leaders are able to facilitate organizational change initiatives and overcome resistance to change.

Leadership Skills for Leading Others:

1.    Communication Skills

It should come as no surprise that effective written and verbal communication is essential for leaders to convey their ideas clearly, inspire their teams, and foster collaboration. Further, a lack of strong communication skills can be seen as unprofessional – causing people to question the leader’s abilities in other areas.

2.    Empathy

It is important for a leader to be able to relate to the emotions and perspectives of others to foster a positive work environment. Showing genuine concern and compassion for those you lead is critical in building employee morale and engagement. 

3.    Motivational & Team-Building Skills

The ability to inspire and motivate a team is critical for successful leaders. Serving as a coach and mentor not only builds the team, it builds the relationship with each employee.

Strong leaders can recognize and leverage the individual strengths of their team members, as well as foster collaboration rather than unhealthy competition.

4.    Accountability

Exceptional leaders take responsibility for their actions and hold themselves and others accountable. Part of accountability is dealing with problem employees in a decisive and fair manner; one of the biggest missteps many leaders make is showing favoritism to certain employees or having blinders on.

5.    Open-Mindedness

To promote innovation and inclusivity with a team, leaders must be open to new ideas and diverse perspectives. They listen.

6.    Building Collaborative Relationships

Effective leaders build productive working relationships with coworkers and external parties.

7.    Respect for Differences

Leaders value people with different backgrounds, cultures, and demographics. They truly understand the value of diversity in its many forms – and foster an inclusive workplace.

Leadership Skills for Leading Yourself:

1.    Resilience

Leaders should be able to bounce back from setbacks, maintain a positive outlook, and demonstrate self-control in the face of difficulties.

2.    Time Management

Effective leaders prioritize tasks and manage their time efficiently to meet deadlines and achieve objectives. They spend the majority of their time in Stephen Covey’s Quadrant Two: Important, But Not Urgent activities.

3.    Self-Awareness

Strong leaders are fully aware of their strengths and weaknesses. They know how to leverage their strengths and they have a plan for mitigating their weaknesses. Further, they have a personal mindset of continuous improvement.

4.    Taking Initiative

Exceptional leaders look at problems as opportunities to be capitalized on, and they do so quickly.

5.    Work-Life Balance

Strong leaders recognize the importance of having a personal life, rest, and rejuvenation. They also see the value in modeling a work-life balance for their team.

6.    Career Management

Leaders are lifelong learners, they have coaches and mentors, and develop professional relationships that are open and honest. They keep their skills and credentials current and are actively engaged in acquiring new knowledge.

Here is a major derailer to being an effective leader (besides the obvious opposites of each item above):

Failure to Meet Business Objectives

This one is loaded because there are so many potential reasons. If you earn a reputation as someone not to be trusted to follow through on commitments or does not effectively complete work, your tenure with that organization will be short-lived. The problem with this one is it is pretty black and white and can give the organization a concrete reason to fire you.

Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The CareerSpring document and coaching program will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you’re worth.

If you’re ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more: 

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