Table of Contents

1. Meaning of leadership and required skills...................................................................................2

2. Behaviors of effective leader.......................................................................................................2
3. Contingency Theory....................................................................................................................3
4. Types of leadership......................................................................................................................4
5. Leadership development..............................................................................................................4
6. Methods to develop leadership competency................................................................................5
References......................................................................................................................................10

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1. Meaning of leadership and required skills
Leadership is the ability to inspire and guide a group of individuals towards a common goal. It
involves making decisions, setting a vision, and motivating others to achieve that vision.

Tomorrow's leadership is being driven by factors such as globalization, technological

advancements, and the changing nature of work. Leaders need to be adaptable, innovative, and
able to navigate complex and diverse environments.

Some key leadership skills and competencies needed for the future include emotional
intelligence, communication, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead diverse teams. Goal
Setting. The ability to set goals is one of the core competencies of an effective leader. ...

Delegation. No true leader insists on maintaining all control of all things. ...

Decision Making.

Communication.

Time Management.

Problem Solving.

Relationship Building.

2. Behaviors of effective leader

Some behaviors that effective leaders demonstrate:

Communication: Effective leaders communicate clearly and effectively with their team
members. They listen actively, provide feedback, and give clear instructions.

Vision: Effective leaders have a clear vision of where they want to take their team or
organization. They communicate this vision to their team members and inspire them to work
towards it.

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Empathy: Effective leaders are empathetic towards their team members. They understand their
needs, concerns, and challenges and provide support and guidance accordingly.

Accountability: Effective leaders take responsibility for their actions and decisions. They hold
themselves and their team members accountable for achieving their goals.

Adaptability: Effective leaders are adaptable and flexible. They can adjust their plans and
strategies based on changing circumstances and market conditions.

Delegation: Effective leaders delegate tasks and responsibilities to their team members. They
trust their team members and empower them to make decisions and take ownership of their
work.

Continuous Learning: Effective leaders are lifelong learners. They seek out new knowledge and
skills and encourage their team members to do the same.

Positive Attitude: Effective leaders maintain a positive attitude, even in challenging situations.
They inspire and motivate their team members to stay optimistic and focused on their goals.

3. Contingency Theory
Fiedler's Contingency Theory states that, for a leader to be effective, their leadership style must
fit the situation. Using this model, you'll identify your own leadership style, assess the situation
that requires leadership, and determine whether you're the right leader.

Contingency theories of leadership suggest that the most effective leadership style depends on
the situation at hand. These theories emphasize the importance of adapting leadership styles to fit
the specific needs of a given situation, rather than adhering to a one-size-fits-all approach. By
exercising contingency theories of leadership, leaders can better address the unique challenges
and opportunities presented by different situations, ultimately leading to more effective
leadership.

Contingency theories of leadership styles are effectively exercised when the leader is able to
adapt their style to the specific situation and the needs of their followers. This means that the

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leader must be able to assess the situation, the capabilities of their team, and the task at hand in
order to determine the most effective leadership approach.

4. Types of leadership
Transformational leadership focuses on inspiring and motivating followers to achieve a common
goal, often through charisma and vision. Transactional leadership involves the exchange of
rewards for performance and the maintenance of the status quo. Charismatic leadership involves
a leader who possesses strong personal qualities that inspire and motivate others. Servant
leadership emphasizes the leader's focus on serving the needs of others and empowering them to
achieve their full potential. Authentic leadership involves being true to oneself and
demonstrating transparency and honesty in leadership.

The most important leadership style may vary depending on the situation and the needs of the
organization or team. Some may argue that transformational and authentic leadership are most
important as they focus on inspiring and empowering others, while others may argue that
transactional leadership is necessary for maintaining order and achieving specific goals.

5. Leadership development
The field of leadership development is constantly evolving, and there are several current issues
that professionals in this area are addressing. Some of these issues include:

Diversity and Inclusion: Ensuring that leadership development programs are inclusive and
address the needs of a diverse range of leaders.

Remote Leadership: With the rise of remote work, there is a need to develop leaders who can
effectively manage and lead remote teams.

Emotional Intelligence: Emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership and

integrating it into leadership development programs.

Adaptive Leadership: Developing leaders who can navigate through complex and rapidly
changing environments.

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Ethical Leadership: Fostering ethical decision-making and behavior in leaders.

6. Methods to develop leadership competency

Developing leadership skills and competencies involves a combination of self-awareness,
learning from others, and practical experience. Some strategies for developing leadership skills
include seeking feedback from colleagues and mentors, taking on new challenges and
responsibilities, and seeking out leadership development programs or workshops.

One approach to developing leadership skills is through continuous learning and self-
improvement. This may involve reading books or articles on leadership, attending seminars or
workshops, or enrolling in leadership development programs. Additionally, seeking out
mentorship or coaching from experienced leaders can provide valuable insights and guidance.

Another important aspect of developing leadership skills is gaining practical experience. This
can involve taking on new projects or roles that require leadership and decision-making, as well
as seeking out opportunities to lead teams or initiatives within your organization.

13 Ways to Develop Leadership Skills

There are 13 skills that would-be leaders need to develop to be able to prove themselves suitable
for the role. Non-leaders can develop these in their workplaces or by joining a community
service project. We shall look at each one in the list of leadership skills and abilities, why they
are considered vital, how one can demonstrate they possess each skill, and how to build
leadership skills.

1. Improve Communication Skills

Leaders are expected to have higher than average communication skills in order to better convey
directives or inspire the team in their work. A good leader should learn how and when to use the
right words that will grab the audience's attention, enough for them to understand and heed what
was being conveyed. This is applicable to both oral and written communication, so it is
important to be fluent in both.

2. Practice Discipline

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As a role model, it is important for a leader to exhibit discipline. Being able to show this attribute
gets team members to follow suit, which can help bring about greater work efficiency. Discipline
also makes it easy for team members to easily comply with a leader's directives or instructions,
as they see that the leader does indeed 'walk the talk.'

Demonstrating discipline is as simple as meeting deadlines, keeping commitments, and being on

time to start or end meetings and other engagements. Having a daily routine and sticking to it
consistently also help instill discipline. If these tasks may seem too daunting, it is enough to start
with the smaller tasks first and improve from there.

3. Resolve Conflicts

Conflict is a natural occurrence in any organization. As such, a leader is not expected to prevent
conflicts from happening in the first place. However, a leader should be able to resolve such
conflicts in an effective manner and must make sure that conflicts do not erupt as often as
possible. One effective way of resolving conflicts is to talk to the parties involved and act as a
facilitator who must sort out and clear any misunderstandings between the parties. And in worse
situations, the leader must be prepared to make difficult decisions to finally arrive at a resolution.
This may involve having one or both parties assigned to different teams in order to ensure a
positive working environment.

4. Take on More Responsibilities

While it is not expected for a leader to do a lot of work since leaders are expected to delegate
tasks to the team, it is still important for a leader to be able to take on additional responsibilities
if necessary as a way to show initiative and help out the team if they are short-handed, thus
taking on more responsibility. Such acts help demonstrate and develop the trait of being willing
to go above and beyond their job description in order to help the team get things done.

5. Be a Follower

How to learn leadership skills is counterintuitive in that a good leader needs to be a good
follower, a concept that has been around since ancient times and is a common philosophy among
many religions. (Schroeder, 2019) A leader understands that things do not always go one's way
and that some may have better or more viable ideas or preferences than what they may have in

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mind. In such cases, a good leader knows when to stand back and entrust others to lead the way
in reaching for a particular objective. Such experiences can also serve as an opportunity to learn
new ideas that can help in their development as leaders.

It is important for leaders to always have an open mind towards possible new ideas and not feel
threatened whenever someone disagrees with their ideas. There should be an open exchange of
ideas and mutual respect for each person's views. This helps build respect within the team
towards the leader and build a positive working environment as well.

6. Develop Awareness and Foresight

With so many things happening around one's environment, It is easy for one to be unaware,
unintentionally or otherwise, of certain developments at first. Being a good leader is one who has
not kept oneself abreast of everything that is going on within the team or the organization but
also takes time to catch up regularly on any developments one may have missed the first time
they occurred.

In keeping themselves updated with the developments, leaders can now also see possible patterns
and trends that can help them in their decision-making and ensure that the team and the
organization is ahead of the curve. This also helps them anticipate possible issues and handle
them swiftly before they begin.

7. Inspire Others

Through words and actions, a leader should always aim to inspire the team to do their best
despite the circumstances. A leader just doing a job regardless of what it is and the circumstances
can be enough to motivate others to keep pushing. Giving even a simple encouraging statement
or some comforting words to a team member needing one can make a huge difference in
boosting one's morale.

It is important for a leader to develop a sense of empathy that will help them have a better
understanding of what people go through in their lives and be able to show proper support that
can help them in such difficult times.

8. Continue Learning

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Knowledge is one of the most important assets of a leader and in order to be a good leader, one
has to continuously learn new things with regards to the role. There are leadership training
programs or seminars one can take if one is seriously looking to grow professionally as a leader
in an organization. But knowledge can also be attained through awareness of what is going on
around them and, most especially, through real-life experiences on leadership and gain important
insights as part of the learning experience. It also helps to learn from more experienced leaders
who can provide much greater and deeper insights that will enrich one's leadership skills.

9. Empower the Team

It is important for a leader to acknowledge the efforts of the team and let them know of their
worth as a way of empowering them. Acknowledgments like these encourage them to do better
and be more productive as their way of showing that they are not letting their leaders down.

A leader can also empower their team by delegating important tasks to certain team members.
For the team members concerned, the delegation of a particular task implies trust in one's
character and expertise in getting the work done, which in turn helps in their professional
development. It is important for a leader to help team members in their professional development
and make them feel like they are important contributors to the team's and the organization's
growth.

10. Listen Attentively

In a similar vein as a good follower, a good leader must also be keen to listen to suggestions,
ideas, and feedback from other people that can help improve processes, the team, or the
organization overall and not only act but also improve upon them. Leaders would benefit from
doing active listening where one pays full attention to the speaker and acknowledge the message
being imparted. Active listening can be done by maintaining eye contact, avoiding distractions,
and responding appropriately. Showing an effort to actively listen helps people feel motivated
that they are being listened to.

11. Encourage Collaboration

Collaborations are helpful in building relationships within or even outside the organization, and
in building leadership skills. As leaders may not always have the manpower or resources

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available to complete certain tasks, it is important for them to be always open to working with
other individuals or teams who can help fill in the gaps. In return, leaders should also be ready to
provide help if necessary.

12. Have a Positive Attitude

Being a leader is not easy, with all the tasks, responsibilities, and pressures placed on them.
Regardless of these challenges, a good leader is one who strives to maintain a positive attitude.
One that is optimistic that the job will be done and is passionate about the work that he or she
does. A good leader shows that one does one's job out of love for the work and a sincere desire to
see the team and the organization succeed.

13. Be More Decisive

One of the ways to improve leadership skills is for a leader to be decisive and not be easily
swayed to change decisions afterward. A good leader knows the importance of every decision
one makes so he or she takes time to see both the benefits and the drawbacks of each decision
and come up with a decision that benefits the team and organization the most. Knowing that all
options were considered and all possible results were plotted out helps leaders be more firm in
their decisions.

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