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Effective Leadership Skills
Improves Organizational Success

Decision making ability is only one of the requirements of an effective leader.

Your organization needs executives who possess and can demonstrate the type of leadership skills that lead to unity of purpose.

Such skills are essential in the implementation of strategic HR management system.

(The Photo on this page is by Tom Purves)


Effective Leadership Skills for the 21st Century
We can expect the twenty first century to pose more complex and challenging problems for corporate leaders.

What do some writers say about effective leadership skills?

Edward Chalmers presents his Six (6) Top Leadership Skills, namely:

1. Vision
Focus on the big picture and how "your team performs fits into the productivity, image andoverall success of the company."


2. Confidence
"Surround yourself with people who make the company look good, not "yes men"...
Be decisive, control stress and accept criticism.


3. People Skills
Identify the policies or problems that hinder "your team from doing its job effectively, efficiently and enthusiastically."
Be flexible and open, supportive and back your staff.


4. Motivation skills
Encourage and inspire your people, and develop their talents. Encourage them.
Give praise.
"...show that you're behind them. Understand your team's needs."
"You'll be better able to clarify expectations and do meaningful performance reviews if you have up-to-date and hands-on knowledge of their duties and responsibilities.


5. Responsibility
Accept blame for poor decisions. Ensure that "the buck stops with you."
Solve problems, making difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions."
Lead by example.


6. Integrity
Do the right thing, making decisions that do not go "against your own values..."
Be honest and honor your word.
Avoid gossip and "don't spread malicious rumors or repeat seemingly inconsequential stories about other people.
"Maintain confidentiality, respect others and be consistent."

If people describe you as a natural leader, accept the compliment. This is one of the indications that you can inspire people to follow your leadership.

Understand the organization's vision. Improve your confidence, people skills and motivation skills. Try to stay focused on the responsibilities. Integrity will help you as a leader.

Even if you are not a natural leader, you can learn these effective leadership skills.

Robert Moment in his "Top Seven (7) Skills for Business Success" presents "seven leadership rules to live by that will help you reap the rewards of contributing to your business or company effectively in the 21st Century."

As stated, effective leadership skills are necessary in order to improve the bottom-line of your organization.

1. Adaptability.
   As a leader, adaptability means reacting in an effective manner to shifting circumstances in your business environment.

   If adaptability is not your strongest asset, then hone your skills by:
   

   • Learning to accept difference as merely a difference, not a problem.
     
   • Keeping an open mind and committing yourself to learning constantly, learning quickly and responding accordingly.
     
   • Adopting a flexible approach when faced with any situation that requires adaptability.

   Design your work style around a plan that provides plenty of adaptability. In this way, you can provide better support and leadership to your team or organization. Lead by example and show that you are adaptable, open-minded and flexible.

2. Skills in Handling People.
   Experts classify people skills as a term to indicate four sets of skills:
   
   • The ability to observe people in business. This gives you the insight needed to take the appropriate action required for the right result.
     
   • The ability to communicate effectively to everyone. This can help increase productivity.
     
   • The ability to motivate gives you the leadership edge to get the best out of those who work for you or with you, and
     
   • Adaptability.
     Developing better people skills, specifically in the four areas "helps you attain your business objectives much faster by working more productively with today’s very knowledgeable generation X and Y workforce."
     This helps you develop a trusting, productive relationship that benefits everyone.
     
     
3. Self Awareness.
   "Leaders who are aware of how they’re perceived by others or how they impact the behavior of others are more likely to succeed than those who aren’t self aware..."
   

   Other people "can only judge us based on our behaviors, which can often lead to misunderstandings and mis-communication. You cannot, as a leader, assume that everyone around you instinctively understands the “how and why” behind what you do. ..."

   Self-awareness will make people see that you are making the effort to overcome your faults.

   Self-awareness is a very important trait of a great leader.
   

4. Decisiveness.
   "Decisiveness is an exercise in good judgment, affording well-informed, fast and sound decisions when needed from a leader, but it is not to be confused with inflexibility. It’s often conspicuous, which sometimes makes it difficult for leaders to enforce their decisions comfortably. Everyone has some degree of fear of being liable for a conspicuous, albeit incorrect, decision."
   

   However, indecisiveness is worse with more chances of facing more tragic consequences.
   

   Decisiveness is an important leadership quality.
   

5. Purposefulness.
   "Every business needs a vision to set its direction and every successful leader can tune into that vision to achieve success... What may be more advantageous today is the ability to own a strong sense of purpose and the ability to convey this purposefulness to your employees and coworkers."
   
   
6. Collaborative Skills.
   With the help of technology, "today’s business environment benefits greatly from a culture of collaboration within your business and across all departments, both internally and externally."
   
   
7. Innovate And Execute.
   As a result of a culture of collaboration there is a constant exchange of innovative ideas within your organization.

Effective leadership skills will help you and your organization benefit from the type of leadership skills required to succeed in the 21st century.

The Human Resource Manager and HR professionals need to equip themselves with effective leadership skills. This ensures that HR people can play their respective role as strategic business partner in order to drive the success of your organization.

Nurture your key people and provide them with effective leadership skills.

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