Leadership Competencies

Essential Leadership Competencies

A focus on leadership competencies and skill development promotes better leadership. 3However, skills needed for a particular
position may change depending on the specific leadership level in the organization. By using a competency approach, organizations
can determine what positions at which levels require specific competencies. 4 Researchers at the Center for Creative Leadership
have identified some essential leadership competencies that are consistent among organizations. They divide the overall structure
into competencies for leading the organization, leading the self and leading others in the organization (see Figure 1).
When selecting and developing leaders, HR professionals should consider the competencies that the individual possesses and
compare those to the ones that need further development for success in a leadership role. By looking at his/her current
competencies and comparing those to the skills necessary to fill a leadership position, organizations can make better informed
decisions in hiring, developing and promoting leaders.5

Figure 1: Leadership Competencies

Leading the organization:
-managing change
-solving problems and making decisions
-managing politics and influencing others
-taking risks and innovating
-setting vision and strategy
-managing the work
-enhancing business skills and knowledge
-understanding and navigating the organization
Leading the self:
-demonstrating ethics and integrity
-displaying drive and purpose
-exhibiting leadership stature
-increasing your capacity to learn
-managing yourself
-increasing self-awareness
-developing adaptability
Leading others:
-communicating effectively
-developing others
-valuing diversity and difference
-building and maintaining relationships
-managing effective teams and work groups
Source: Adapted from McCauley, C. (2006). Developmental assignments: Creating learning experiences without changing jobs. Greensboro, N.C.: Center for

Global Leadership Competencies

Developing successful global leaders is a competitive advantage for multinational organizations. 6 In addition to essential leadership
competencies, global leaders face special challenges that require additional competencies. To clarify, a global leader is commonly
defined as someone that cultivates business in a foreign market, sets business strategy at a global level and manages globally
diverse and diffused teams.7 According to a Conference Board research report, 73% of managers agree that domestic business
leadership and global leadership differ in the skills required. Some of the challenges that global leaders may face are managing a
diverse group of employees and business processes; adaptively approaching problems and challenges; adjusting to new values and
cultures; and adapting to different types of business and personal stressors. 8
To address the unique challenges of global leaders, researchers have identified global leadership competencies that can contribute
to success. Among these global competencies, developing a global mindset, cross-cultural communication skills and respecting
cultural diversity are paramount to succeeding in the global workplace. 9 Morgan McCall and George Hollenback studied successful
global leaders and developed a list of common competencies specific to the global leader (see Figure 2). 10 HR practitioners can use
global leadership competencies to support the development of leaders and thus the overall global business strategy.

Figure 2: Global Executive Competencies

▪ Open-minded and flexible in thought and tactics
▪ Cultural interest and sensitivity
▪ Able to deal with complexity
▪ Resilient, resourceful, optimistic and energetic
▪ Honesty and Integrity
▪ Stable personal life
▪ value-added technical or business skills
Source: McCall, M., & Hollenbeck, G. (2002). Developing global executives: The lessons of international
experience. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing.

Business Trends and Strategy Drive New Leadership Competencies

According to the 2008 SHRM report, Changing Leadership Strategies, the rise of competition caused by the knowledge economy
and globalization will bring significant changes in the leadership strategies for organizations. 11 Given the future business
environment trends, researchers agree that the most important leadership competencies will include effective change management,
developing talent/teams and being an effective collaborator/network builder. 12 In fact, since competencies should be driven by future
business strategy, it is important to consider the major business trends of the future. 13 The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)
identified some future business trends that will affect the leadership skills needed to support business (see Figure 3).
In addition to looking at future business trends to shape the development of leadership competencies, organizations must also look
to the specific strategy and preferred business results of the particular organization. By creating competency models that reflect the
future strategy of the business and the important results to stakeholders (i.e., customers, shareholders, investors), organizations can
successfully create a leadership brand.14 Dave Ulrich and Norm Smallwood define a leadership brand as "a reputation for
developing exceptional managers with a distinct set of talents that are uniquely geared to fulfill customers' and investors'
expectations."15 Researchers have found that when investors have confidence in the leadership talent of an organization, share
price will increase.16 By creating a unique leadership brand via leadership competencies that produce results to stakeholders,
organizations gain a competitive advantage.

Literature and Research

The Leadership Skills Strataplex: Leadership Skill Requirements across Organizational Levels 17

The authors of this article conceptualized and empirically tested a strataplex model for leadership skills. Leadership skills are divided
into four broad categories: cognitive, interpersonal, business and strategic. The "strataplex" model refers to how the four categories
of skills vary based on respective management levels in an organization. The researchers tested the model on more than 1,000
new, midlevel and senior managers. The results showed that higher levels of management in the organization required greater
leadership skills. The most important skill across all the levels of leadership was cognitive skill. This skill is thought to be the basis of
all leadership skills because it encompasses the ability to acquire new knowledge and learn new ways of solving problems.
Interestingly, business skills and strategic skills were the two most important skills to acquire when moving into high levels of
leadership. This research is important because it empirically demonstrates that leadership skills do differ at different management
levels on the career ladder. Most importantly, business acumen and strategic skills must be acquired to be effective at the higher
levels of management/leadership. HR professionals should take into account the change in competencies required as managers
move into higher level leadership positions.

Many graduates harbour management aspirations. To impress business employers and climb the career
ladder, you'll need to brush up on the following management skills

Interpersonal skills
Management jobs are all about people and being able to build successful relationships is integral. If you want to lead a team you'll
first need to earn the respect of your colleagues and to do this you need to know how to effectively deal with other people.
Setting time aside to get to know your team members on both a personal and professional level, perhaps through social activities or
team-building training, while still maintaining professional boundaries, will go a long way to earning their respect.
You need to demonstrate your managerial qualities and authority while maintaining the ability to play your part as a member of a
team.

Communication and motivation

Effective leaders must master all forms of communication including written, verbal and listening skills. As a team manager you're the
line of communication between frontline staff and senior management, so you'll need to be able to communicate with a variety of
people from entry-level employees to heads of departments and CEOs in a number of different ways such as via email and social
media, over the phone and in presentations, meetings and one-to-ones.
As a leader you'll need to establish a trusting relationship with your employees so they feel comfortable sharing information with you
and vice versa. To ensure that lines of communication remain open you'll need to make yourself readily available and accessible to
your employees to discuss any issues or concerns that arise. Putting in place an open door policy or weekly or monthly team
meetings should facilitate this. When communicating let your staff know that they matter by keeping eye contact, smiling and
listening attentively.
Projecting an open, positive attitude at work goes a long way to creating a happy and healthy work environment. Don't shut yourself
off or put yourself on a pedestal. Simple things such as active encouragement, recognising achievements and taking an interest in
the lives of your employees boosts morale and ensures that staff feel valued by the company. If people are a product of their
environment, a positive workplace creates happy, motivated employees.
TO BECOME A MANAGER, YOU NEED TO BE MULTI-SKILLED AND YOU CAN DEVELOP ALL THE REQUIRED COMPETENCIES RELATIVELY EASILY

Organisation and delegation

On a day-to-day basis a manager must juggle multiple responsibilities so excellent organisational skills are vital. You will need to
manage your own workload, oversee the work of other employees, attend meetings and training sessions, carry out appraisals and
review company policies. Sloppy working practices, tardiness and a general lack of organisational ability will not be tolerated at this
level and could set a bad example to your staff. Effective organisational skills reduce stress, save time and ensure that important
deadlines are met.
Many managers ease their own busy workload by delegating tasks to colleagues. To do this effectively you need to analyse and
identify the skills of your employees and assign duties to each depending on their skillset. Delegation is far from a sign of weakness
and can in fact multiply the amount of work that a manager can accomplish, while developing an employee's confidence and skills.

Forward planning and strategic thinking

It's a manager's job to think of the big picture, so as well as focusing on today's tasks and responsibilities you need to plan for the
future. This means setting priorities in line with company goals, reviewing systems and policies, and attending training and
managing the CPD activities of your team. As a strategic thinker you'll encourage innovation and change in order to make your team
and the organisation as a whole more productive and profitable.
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Problem solving and decision-making

As a manager you'll be tasked with spotting and solving problems on daily basis. This requires outstanding attention to detail and
the ability to remain calm under pressure. To ensure that your team is productive and that the workflow runs smoothly you'll have to
think on your feet when problems arise. Creative thinking will help you to come up with innovative solutions that minimise the impact
on your team and the business as a whole.
Thinking on your feet also comes in useful when you have to make a snap decision about how to successfully complete a task or
meet a business goal. Being able to quickly weigh up the pros and cons of a situation and make an informed decision is essential.
Commercial awareness
This skill is in huge demand among business employers, in fact according to recruiters, commercial awareness is something that the
majority of graduates applying for management roles lack.
If you want to progress to management level, it’s imperative that you have an understanding of the marketplace in which a business
operates and of what makes a business successful. To demonstrate this you'll need to show that you:

 are aware of the organisation's mission and aims

 have an understanding of the sector that the company belongs to
 possess knowledge of political and economic issues affecting the business
 know all about the company's competitors.

Mentoring
As well as being business-focused decision-makers, managers also need to play a supportive role. If you've reached this senior
level you have proven experience, knowledge and skills and it's your job to pass this knowledge along and share your skills with
other colleagues.
This involves training and advising staff and building their confidence and skills. In a management position you're charged with
overseeing the continued professional development of all employees and will be the driving force behind the progression of team
members.

How do I develop my management skills?

To become a successful manager, you need to be multi-skilled and the good news is that you can develop all the required
competencies relatively easily.
All of the above skills can be learned, honed and developed through a number of activities such as:

 Joining student societies - gaining experience in leadership roles is easy while at university so be sure to take
advantage of all opportunities. You could work your way up the ranks and become the captain of a sports team, or sign up
to chair a pre-existing club. If your area of interest isn't represented you could use your initiative to create and president
your own society, or alternatively you could apply to represent the student body as a students' union officer. Learn more
about standing for student elections and the importance of extra-curricular activities.
 Internships and volunteering - upon graduation you could take part in an industry internship. These look great on
your CV and provide a first-hand glimpse of what it's like to manage a team. As well as building up your skills and
confidence, internships also provide you with a list of useful contacts, which could help you secure a job in the future. To
gain experience in a supportive capacity, you could volunteer as a mentor or sports coach. This could see you working
with adults in the community or with children in education settings. Other relevant volunteering activities include leading a
community team on an environmental project and managing a group of charity fundraisers.
 Part-time work - management and leadership skills can also be built through part-time employment in team/department
leader and supervisory roles. It doesn't matter where you work, you could manage bar or hospitality staff, supervise retail
or factory workers, man reception desks or lead admin teams. All experience is valuable, especially when you're in a
position of responsibility.
 Studying for professional qualifications - CMI research has discovered that three quarters of employers believe more
graduates should undertake professional qualifications since these provide evidence of, and help to develop, practical
managerial skills. To find out what training is on offer, see management courses.

When it comes to job interviews use specific examples from your own experience to explain how you've acquired the necessary
skills and to demonstrate how you've used them effectively. Learn how to answer specific management interview questions.

11 Powerful Traits Of Successful Leaders

Successful leaders are the power and intellect behind their organizations. They are the visionaries charged with
steering their brand around pitfalls. They must know when to seize opportunities and how to rally employees to work
hard toward their company’s goals.

Effective leaders transcend the title of “manager” or “boss.” They have found a way to achieve the right combination of
charisma, enthusiasm and self-assurance, probably with a healthy dose of luck and timing.
It may seem like some people are just gifted with these skills, but the truth is most leadership traits can be learned
and sharpened with time and practice. You can begin building your success by developing these 11 must-have traits of
a powerful and successful leader.

1. Self-Managing

It’s hard to manage others effectively if you can’t manage yourself. Self-managing means being able to prioritize your
goals and being responsible for accomplishing those objectives. As an effective leader, you must be able to regulate
your time, attention and emotions, while remaining aware of your strengths, weaknesses and potential sources of
bias.

Exceptional leaders are adept at handling stress and balancing their personal and professional lives. But you must
also remember the importance of compassion and be able to respond to people and events in an appropriate way.
Remember to maintain self-control and discipline in your actions, though you should avoid becoming overly reserved
or inflexible.

2. Acting Strategically

A forward-thinking, open-minded approach is necessary for today’s leaders. According to a Harvard Business
Publishing report, Leading Now: Critical Capabilities for a Complex World, “Leaders must always be prepared to
adjust their strategies to capture emerging opportunities or tackle unexpected challenges.” Thinking strategically is an
ongoing process that involves assessing your business environment. You can cultivate strategic thinking by:

• Being curious and genuinely interested in your company and wider business environment,

• Being flexible in your mindset and trying new approaches and ideas,

• Focusing on the future and thinking about your company’s operational conditions, and

• Maintaining a positive outlook.

3. Being An Effective Communicator

Powerful leaders know when to talk and when to listen. They are effective communicators and are able to clearly and
succinctly explain to their employees everything from organizational goals to specific tasks. If people don’t
understand or aren’t aware of your expectations, they will fall short, so the more specific you can be, the better.

You need to be able to communicate on all levels: one on one, to the department and to the entire staff, as well as via
phone, email and social media. Communication is built on a steady flow of verbal and nonverbal exchanges of ideas
and information, so work on being approachable and involving people from different levels.

4. Being Accountable And Responsible

Successful managers know how to use power and authority appropriatelywithout overwhelming or overpowering
employees. Effective leaders hold themselves accountable and take responsibility for their own mistakes—and they
expect others to do the same. They can work within established procedures, and be productive and efficient in their
decisions.

They appreciate the importance of supporting and encouraging individuality while also understanding organizational
structures and the need to follow rules and policies. They are able to balance different perspectives while taking
appropriate action.

5. Setting Clear Goals And Persisting In Achieving Them

Here is a boiled-down version for acquiring charisma: Set clear goals and be determined and purposeful in achieving
them. Back it all up with unshakable self-confidence. If you radiate enthusiasm and are truly excited about what
you’re doing, people will be naturally drawn to you.
Remember that writing your goals down is key to the success of both you and your company. But accomplishing those
goals takes time. If you give up, so will everyone around you. To be a successful leader, you must be willing to keep
going when others are tempted to throw in the towel.

6. Having A Vision For The Future

Exceptional leaders have the ability to look into their company’s future and make clear, concrete goals that will
benefit their organization. They are confident and optimistic, inspiring enthusiasm in those around them.

Being a visionary is about managing change while striking a balance between stability and growth. You must
incorporate new approaches without getting distracted from the main goals.

Being a visionary means understanding that continuous change is occurring all around you, so what worked in the
past may not always work now. Practice being adaptable and agile as you implement new strategies and allow your
business model to evolve over time.

7. Managing Complexity

Leaders must be problem solvers who can make decisions under rapidly shifting circumstances. Learning to lead in a
complex environment is a vital skill for any leader. Even before any definitive information is available, effective
leaders must assess a situation’s complexity and choose appropriate courses of action.

According to a Harvard Business Publishing report, that means being able to scan the environment in search of subtle
trends and indicators of disruptive change, and establish practices that allow your organization to respond swiftly.

8. Fostering Creativity And Innovation

Leaders must have the courage to risk experimentation and encourage creativity. Doing this will foster the innovation
that will steer your organization to new destinations and around the twists and turns of a changing business
landscape.

The key is to always be persistent in pursuing your goals, and open minded and flexible in how you get there.
Encourage the people around you to spend at least 15 percent of their time exploring new ideas through
brainstorming and prototyping.

9. Team Building And Promoting Teamwork

Successful leadership is built on the people around you. Team building is essential to leading a diverse and unique
group of people with distinct personalities, motivations and skills.

Strong teams and teamwork are key to achieving many of things on this list, such as fostering innovation, effective
communication and achieving your organization’s goals. If you recruit and develop the right team, you will be creating
an unstoppable force that will drive your organization’s success.

10. Creating Lasting Relationships

Compelling leaders do more than just inspire others to follow them; they know how to motivate their employees to
strive wholeheartedly for their company’s goals. Employees who feel valued and appreciated, who feel like what they
do makes a difference, will feel invigorated to push harder to achieve success for their company.

Outstanding leaders also understand that they need to be effective at networking, not just to advance their own
careers, but for the benefit of their organization. By creating a vast and varied network of people, leaders establish
impactful relationships with customers, clients, partners and even competitors.

11. Learning Agility

Truly great leaders know that the strength of their leadership is built on their ability to adapt to suddenly changing
circumstances and to know how and when to seize on opportunities amid a changing landscape.

Having an insatiable curiosity will fuel your desire to constantly learn and grow. Learning agility hinges on developing
critical thinking skills, being accepting of uncertainty, having social and emotional intelligence and always having the
desire and determination to push forward.

16 Essential Leadership Skills For The Workplace Of

Tomorrow

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2017/12/2
7/16-essential-leadership-skills-for-the-workplace-of-
tomorrow/#1c90fda354ce
1. Fearless Agility

The speed of the market and our workplaces, powered by the constant stream of new technology
and the "on demand" expectations it has created, will continue to accelerate. Leaders who can
quickly yet effectively think, decide and inspire will be critical to keep up with these fast-
changing competitive demands. - Bonnie Davis, Destination Up

2. Earning Respect

As the workplace evolves to become more transparent, collaborative and mindful, leaders must
be equally diligent to earn respect from their team. Leaders must hold themselves responsible
and accountable for the effect their influence has on their employees and the organization as a
whole. Leadership should be earned anew each day

3. Empathy

The future of leadership will revolve around our capacities to build emotional intelligence within
ourselves as leaders, and those whose lives we touch. Empathy and compassion aren't just ideals
of ancient spiritual teachings; they are cornerstones for bringing people together in mutual
understanding around vital, complex and sometimes alienating socio-political and economic
issues. - Dave Ursillo, DaveUrsillo.com

4. Selflessness

Leaders of the future will know how to tirelessly encourage the dreams of those around them
while diffusing their fears. This requires leaders to have unshakable certainty in themselves and a
willingness to be generous with those they lead. - Monique Alvarez, Monique Alvarez
Enterprises

5. Flexibility
The days of cubicles and 9-to-5 routines are winding down. Teams are quickly transitioning to
work from remote locations, on their own time, on platforms that change every single day.
Flexibility may be an old-school idea, yet it's a principle leaders will always need. Adapting to
the changing technology and millennial-created cultures continue to keep leaders fresh and
effective. - Hanna Hermanson, Dream Life is Real Life

Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I
qualify?

6. Committing To A Clear Vision

Upholding a vision for the future is nothing new to leadership, as are other key traits like
emotional intelligence and being willing to take necessary risks. But there is something to be said
for being unwavering in the pursuit of a mission and vision. Leaders who can capitalize on ways
to make that future vision a reality will take their companies and staff further, faster. - Laura
DeCarlo, Career Directors International

7. Listening

The pace of work, innovation and change continues to accelerate. Leaders need to be highly
skilled listeners to stay ahead of the curve on what's happening with their teams, their clients and
their partners. That will require learning to listen on multiple levels, including being able to tune
in better to the emotional soundtracks of those they lead, serve and work with. - Joe
Casey, Princeton Executive Coaching

8. Humility

Humility is one of the behaviors I observe least often. Recognizing that, simply put, it is not all
about you, is how leaders can enable their teams and their organizations to prepare for the future.
Leaders should not view themselves as the most important person. Be modest about your value.
Encourage others to shine rather than looking for the light yourself. - Leila Bulling Towne, The
Bulling Towne Group, LLC

9. Communication And 'Soft Skills'

"Soft skills" like communication, listening and public speaking have become crucial in the day-
to-day leadership environment. Without effective communication, leaders are just figureheads.
By focusing on the interpersonal interactions, leaders can reach individuals where they are and
connect. - Jennifer Oleniczak Brown, The Engaging Educator

10. Steadiness While Remaining Adaptable

Technological advancements are happening at a rapid pace, which affects the way leaders do
business often. Inflexible leadership causes companies to lag behind competitors, which could
ultimately lead to losing market share – or worse, becoming obsolete. Staying on the cutting
edge of any industry requires flexibility and the ability to adapt quickly to the changes in the
marketplace. - Tamiko Cuellar, Pursue Your Purpose LLC

11. Learning Quickly

The well-known skills of top leaders in the past, such as effective communication and personal
branding, will always be around. But the often-overlooked trait of a top leader that has never
been more important is the ability to learn quickly, over and above just the ability to recall and
reformulate current knowledge. Coachability and adaptability are critical in an age of tech
overwhelm. - Yuri Kruman, Master The Talk Consulting

12. Cultural Intelligence

Experience and business acumen will only take a leader so far. High-touch experiences with
stakeholders and employees and the ability to deftly maneuver in social settings have become the
rule, rather than the exception. Because we are becoming more globally entrenched as a society,
understanding, appreciating and leveraging differences each become critical to effective
leadership. - Karima Mariama-Arthur, Esq., WordSmithRapport

13. Understanding The Individual

With multiple generations in the workforce at the same time, the need for individual attention is
crucial. Gone are the days when leaders could enforce blanket policies and expect results.
Acknowledging the differences in each team member goes a long way when leaders are trying to
communicate, motivate and inspire. - Dominique Anders, Dominant Media / Dominique Anders
Coaching

14. Authenticity

Authenticity encompasses trustworthiness, openness, empathy and being real. We are wary of
leaders who are fake, narcissistic, secretive or self-serving. Teams are getting bolder at calling
out destructive character traits that impact their livelihood and the corporate world. The best
leaders today are authentic; it's how we connect and build trust in our teams and companies. -
Frances McIntosh, Intentional Coaching LLC

15. Leading Through Change

Leaders of the future have to get better at leading teams through change. The talk of the
importance of change is pervasive in business conversations today, but few leaders actually
understand and are good at executing change. The most powerful change skill is leveraging your
people's natural inclination to be creative through transitions. Harness that energy, and leaders
will be unstoppable. - Dr. Rachel MK Headley, Rose Group, Intl

16. Versatility
Versatility across multiple areas of business is proving to be a coveted leadership trait. Gone are
the days of singular expertise; businesses covet skill diversity and agility. The greater the
exposure to various job functions, the easier it can be for leaders to navigate the ever-evolving
world of business, adapt to changing business demands, and provide beneficial solutions. -
Adrienne Tom, Career Impressions