5 Things Every Leader Needs

There are 5 crucial skill sets every leader will need to succeed because everything is different today. The Internet, smart technologies, and globalization have forever changed what we do and how we do it. This means that our strategies must also change.

The 5 skill sets are:

1. Perceptual Insight
2. Motivation
3. Emotional Strength
4. Understanding Cultural Assumptions
5. Participatory Influence

Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Perceptual Insight

Perceptual insight has to do with how we interpret the things that are happening around us. We need accurate perception, and the ability to see on the inside of situations. A bad experience with a co-worker could simply be caused by that person having an off day. Successful leaders are open to reframing their experiences, questioning the accuracy of their perception, and looking into situations for insightful explanations. They avoid jumping to obvious conclusions.

Motivation

Leaders are responsible for achieving their goals through others, so knowing how to motivate others is crucial to their success. This means understanding what specifically motivates each individual to become engaged. People are motivated by needs, but different people have different needs that move them to action. Your job as a leader is to understand and know your people well enough, and to know which bells to ring and when to ring them.

Emotional Strength

People bring their emotions to work and use them to make decisions, build relationships, and at every level of performance. If a leaders is thin-skinned and overly-sensitive, he or she will likely react in a negative way to something that’s been said or done, when it was meant in a totally different way. Emotional awareness and strength helps leaders remain balanced so they can process information appropriately, and use that information for the benefit of all.

Understanding Cultural Assumptions

Cultural beliefs and values are not what people say, but what people believe. They are what people have learned from their interactions with leaders at work. For instance, a company may have a written policy that says one thing, yet employees see and experience the opposite. Because these beliefs reside in the unconscious part of the brain, they can be difficult to change once established. Leaders must see behaviors and interactions as representing the culture of the company. Behaviors must be aligned with the values that accurately reflect the values of the company and its overall mission.

Participatory Influence

Participatory influence is the ability to help others feel comfortable about sharing their ideas and opinions, regardless of job level. The people who do the actual work, are often the people who are most likely to know more about achieving the desired outcomes related to their area of employment. It is a leader’s  responsibility to help employees feel comfortable sharing what they know. Whatever their area of responsibility may be, their insight and input could make a significant difference in outcomes. Smart leaders build relationships that tell others their opinions and knowledge is valued and wanted.