Looking to accelerate your professional development by taking on leadership responsibilities? It’s a common way to drive a career forward. To succeed, you’ll need to learn new supervisory skills on the job. However, there are some types of leadership abilities that you might already have — although you haven’t fully unlocked them yet.
It’s important to have some baseline managerial talents ahead of time. After all, success in leadership roles is difficult. One study showed that 40% of new leaders fail within the first year and a half.
You can avoid these common disasters by cultivating key leadership traits before taking a command position. You might already have some of them already. To see where you’re ahead of the game, here are five types of leadership you might have now:
Five Leadership Forms You Might Have That Can Be Beneficial
Consensus-Building
Being a boss isn’t about being bossy. Yes, in many cases, you have the ability to order your direct reports around. However, that usually isn’t the most effective way to achieve your team’s goals.
Moreover, leadership means more than directing your team. You also have to work with other managers and collaborate with executives above you on the corporate ladder. You also need the skills necessary to put your stamp on these relationships as well.
That’s why consensus-building represents a critical skill. It means talking with your collaborators on a project — no matter where they sit on the org chart — and steering everyone towards a group decision. That way, the final choice will have broader buy-in, and everyone will feel they had constructive input.
Coaching
The first test of your leadership skill comes from succeeding in your everyday tasks. You need to complete the duties assigned to your team efficiently. However, this is just the start. You also want to improve performance over time.
Achieving this goal requires strong coaching abilities. How well can you coax the best results out of those around you? At the same time, can you impart new skills that will improve their performance over time? Positive answers to questions like these spotlight a crucial part of any leader’s toolbox.
Strategic Thinking
A strong coaching ability sets the stage for longer-term success. So does strategic thinking. This skill involves looking beyond your day-to-day routine to contemplate the bigger picture. It lets you plan for the future and position yourself for sustained achievement.
Success here requires that you step out of the daily grind. Set aside time to research broader trends and consider how to take advantage of them. As part of this, you’ll also need to hone your communication skills, convincing others of your vision of the future.
Problem-Solving
Things don’t always go as planned. In many ways, your reputation as a leader will be defined by how you react to emergency situations. Can you succeed under pressure, when conditions conspire against you?
Winning on this front means cultivating strong problem-solving skills. Being able to troubleshoot in difficult situations, while staying calm and cool, will give you an edge when seeking out leadership roles.
Integrity
Trust is an important aspect of leadership. After all, part of the definition of being a leader comes from the responsibility it requires. Your bosses rely on you to get a job done. Meanwhile, your direct reports count on you to protect their best interests within the company.
As such, a strong sense of integrity will serve you well. You earn the right to take on additional responsibility by cultivating an ability to inspire trust and maintain strong ethical standards.
Looking to Bring Your Leadership Traits to the Table?
Ready to push your career forward? A top staffing agency, like Hiregy, can help you achieve your professional goals.
Contact Hiregy today to find your dream job.
