Leadership is a rare skill that has the power to dramatically change the trajectory of your career. It’s about so much more than ordering people around too. Real leadership is about relationship building, goal setting, conflict resolution, and a lot more.
Despite what you may have heard, you can learn to be a better leader. Talking to leaders that you admire, reading books, and attending business leadership training programs can build you into the type of leader that takes charge, gets things done, and brings people together. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the most important skills that all great leaders have, and how you can go about learning them yourself.
Essential Leadership Skills
Figuring out which skills to start with can be tough. Thankfully the internet is full of helpful information. Though no two leaders are exactly alike, most successful ones share a handful of similar skills. Most great leaders have an aptitude for the following skills:
- Creativity
- Patience
- Empathy
- Decisiveness
- Communication
- Active Listening
- Positivity
- Integrity
- Flexibility
- Ability to Teach
Courtney Hale/GetttyHow to Build Leadership Skills
There are a number of ways one can develop their leadership skills and, over time, become a better leader. Asking your friends, family members, and co-workers for honest feedback can help you highlight areas of improvement. You can hire a professional leadership coach to help you create an action plan and guide your progress with their expertise too.
New managers that have a tight work schedule, or lack the funds for one-on-one coaching sessions can always turn to the internet for help. If you have an internet connection, you’re never more than a click away from the sort of transformational leadership training that you’re looking for. We’re not talking about any old college courses either. You can enroll in courses hosted by some of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Harvard University – Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles
Harvard University’s Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles course serves as an introduction to problem solving, authority, trust building, and mobilizing people.1 The course breaks down most of the fundamentals of successful leadership and can be completed at your own pace.
Boston University – Digital Transformation Leadership
Attend this MicroMasters Program from the prestigious Boston University and learn how to harness data to improve business decisions as well as strategies that promote growth and innovation. This comprehensive Digital Transformation Leadership program features five graduate-level courses and can be completed in around nine months online.2
Georgia Tech – Innovation Leadership
Great leaders know that staying ahead of the current trends is essential to thriving in today’s fast-paced business ecosystem. That’s probably why Georgia Tech’s Innovation Leadership program is so highly praised.3 The six-week program lets you learn at your own pace, and sets out to teach you how to inspire your team to generate innovative ideas. The course can also be enjoyed at no charge to you.
University of Michigan – Leading People and Teams Specialization
Spend the next five months sharpening your communication skills and learning how to manage employee performance, development, and retention by enrolling in the University of Michigan’s Leading People and Teams Specialization program.4 This intuitive program is made for intermediate leaders just like you, offering real-world experience as well as guidance from some of the world’s most distinguished business leaders.
University of Washington – Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization
Becoming a great speaker doesn’t happen by accident. It takes practice, experience, and a lot of time. You can fast-track your skills with professional guidance too. The University of Washington’s Dynamic Public Speaking Specialization is designed to do exactly that.5 The course dissects delivery techniques, speechwriting, and preparation so that you can approach your next presentation with more confidence.
Conclusion
Not only is there a knowable list of skills that just about anyone can work on to help them become a better leader, but there are also a ton of free courses available online too! You don’t have to spend all night in the library. Enroll in a class, work on it during your off hours, and start honing your leadership skills today.
Most importantly, never stop learning. There are always more books to read, more skills to learn, and more questions to ask. The greatest leaders make a habit out of learning, growing, and improving their skills. So, if you want to be considered a great leader one day, you should prepare yourself for a lifetime of learning.