Week 7: The 4 Skills of a Leader

Communication

As someone who is leading people and is (in a way) the face of the team, you will need to be talking majority of the time. You will be required to:

Tell people what to do

How they should do it

When they should do it

Why…

Who…

At times, you will be required to do this multiple times before everyone has an idea of what they are doing. That is why communication as a leader is the most important skill to have.

When communicating, it needs to be as simple as possible and as accurate as possible. For all round, top tear communication, you need to have the ability to explain even the most complicated task to people of all aged, IQ and experience.

Regardless of your work ethic and experience, if you are not able to effectively communicate with your team, you will end up being the one slowing it down.

Listening

“People can tell you hear them and when you are listening.” It very important as a leader to make sure that the people you are leading feel like you listen to them.

Regardless of whether they are wrong or not, giving them the feeling that they are being heard makes them respect you more. You will be respected, and they will feel comfortable to be around you.

Make it easier for people to approach you. One of the ways you can do it is by listening.

The less you speak and listen more, the more weight the things you say have.

Empathy

If you to successfully lead, you need to connect with the people you lead. Which means you need to have empathy. Don’t be attached. Have the ability to feel what the other person if feeling. This gives you a better understanding of the other person.

You need connection to have a strong impact on that person so feel the other person’s pain, anger, sadness, fear, etc. Put yourself in their shoes and bring yourself to their level. Submerge yourself in their world.

This will help you get to their core and give you the ability to effectively act on the situation at hand.

Learning

Nothing beats a leader that wants to learn from every situation. A leader that can adapt and adjust accordingly.

Never expect people to the way expect them to.

Never results of the same standard as you.

Never expect smooth sailing.

Never think you know what’s best and that you are always right.

Never not expect a better way.

Learn not only from your mistakes but from the people you lead as well.

Serve the people you lead, and they will willingly serve you vision.