Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2020 - 28

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS COMBINED WITH
COMMUNICATION ABILITIES FOSTER STRONG
AND ENDURING WORKING RELATIONSHIPS.

	 Is my leader persistent and capable of
working through setbacks?
	 Is my leader passionate and able to
take action?
	 Does my leader get results?
	 Does my leader act like an owner?
	 Is my leader accountable?
	 Is my leader consistent and reliable
but flexible when needed?
Enthusiasm and commitment can be
difficult to sustain over time, especially
during periods of upheaval. However, to
help the organization achieve its goals,
leaders need to be willing to invest
themselves fully in their work and in the
success of their team members.

COACHING AND FEEDBACK
Coaching is a valuable mechanism
for maximizing the potential of others,
helping people contribute their best
talents and skills while driving results for
the organization. Employees who receive
regular coaching and feedback will perform
at a higher level and be more engaged.
Nearly 22% of our survey respondents
wanted their leaders to be able to
coach and develop others effectively.
In another study we conducted, 70% of
respondents indicated a preference for
leaders who coach them directly, openly
and candidly when working together to
develop solutions. People want a leader
who shares feedback about blind spots,
supports their professional growth and
provides the information they need to
excel in their roles.

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CREDIBILITY
Leadership credibility develops over
time and is determined more by
leaders' actions than their words. Our
research indicates that having a leader
with a high degree of competence,
expertise and experience is extremely
important to people. Employees want
to feel confident that their leader has
the knowledge and skills necessary
to effectively lead the team, execute
on the tasks at hand and generate
desired results. Leaders need to be
avid learners and demonstrate that
they are willing to work as hard or
harder than everyone else. Leaders
truly set the tone for how people
grow and invest in their ongoing
personal development.

DIRECTION AND STRATEGY
People in the modern workforce want
to be connected to a cause they can
feel good about; something that is
sustainable, enduring and bigger than
themselves. They want to be valued
for their abilities and recognized for
their potential. They want to work for
visionary leaders who set audacious
but attainable goals and fight tirelessly
for the future. Understanding the
importance of the work they do
everyday matters to them. All this
should underscore why having a clearly
communicated direction and strategy
is a key component of employee
engagement. Visionary and strategic
leaders know exactly what winning
means for them, their teams and the
organization. They can formulate an
ideal picture of a preferred future state
and clearly describe the destination to

others. They are not afraid of thinking
big and going all out, but they also
balance their ambitions with agility,
patience and reason.

MANAGEMENT ESSENTIALS
Interestingly, only 5.6% of our survey
respondents indicated that fundamental
management skills were important to
them in a leader; soft skills seemed to
take much greater precedence. Even so,
a leader's success depends in part on his
or her ability to master the fundamentals
of management - planning, organizing
and staffing - combined with and
supported by people-leadership traits.
The people in our study who contributed
to this category indicated that they want
to follow someone who executes on
plans and makes things happen. These
are leaders who have the discipline
and organizational skills needed to get
things done effectively and efficiently.
We have found that leaders with strong
business acumen and an enterprise
mindset are better able to influence
others and drive results. They know how
to bring plans, processes and people
together to unlock great results.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN
FOR YOU?
Although everyone has their own
leadership style and strengths, your
success as a leader will be determined
by your ability to consistently
demonstrate and cultivate capabilities
and characteristics that fall into the
eight categories above.
Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2020

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