Workplaces can be very dynamic, complex environments. Everyone juggles multiple projects and tasks, meetings, and deadlines. As such, it is vital to have a strong leader to ensure every team member can take advantage of available resources when reaching deadlines. Whether you have recently been placed into a management position or are a seasoned professional working with new hires or business expansion, you can learn new ways to improve your leadership skills.
Several essential leadership skills are needed when interacting with employees and clients, managing projects, and completing tasks. Many of these qualities are considered soft skills. Soft skills are interpersonal skills that can be used company-wide when creating workplace relationships with team members and customers. Some examples of soft skills include:
Suppose you are an employee who finds themselves moving up the corporate ladder. You may be worried about transitioning into a leadership role. For example, whether it is managing a department or a project, you may find yourself experiencing new challenges when supervising others. You will need to be aware of several things in your new role.
Challenges can come in many forms when transitioning to a leader. You have to know what projects are taking place, the progress of the projects, and what issues team members are facing. You may also have to deal with a workplace culture that is unfamiliar and uneasy regarding the changes you are implementing under your leadership role. Depending on the challenges, you must find solutions to overcome them. Perhaps you will provide the necessary resources to meet project deadlines or hold meetings to communicate and listen to employees regarding upcoming changes.
You must shift mental gears when moving from an employee to a managerial role. Instead of doing the project yourself, you are now managing the people performing the work. Those team members must also shift their mindsets about you from being an employee to their boss.
Embrace how everyone's mindset changes due to your new position. Be sure to provide details and clarity about your new role and reiterate their support in various projects. This tactic can bring peace of mind that it will be a smooth transition.
Improving your leadership skills is essential if you’re considering a managerial role or mentoring others. Here are six strategies for improvement in the workplace:
Many issues in the workplace are a result of miscommunication. A leader must communicate clearly to remedy issues surrounding deadlines, deliverables, and job roles. Clear communication about the company’s vision and motivations can help employees be on the same page about the work that needs to be completed. You should communicate clearly in every way you speak with employees, whether face-to-face, during Zoom meetings, over the phone, or through email. Keeping your team informed about project updates, fostering strong relationships, and dedicating time to meet one-on-one can also help build trust with your team.
You want to provide transparency regarding your work expectations of team members. In addition to communicating, you also want to be an active listener. You want to engage in conversations and hear what your team has to say, then act appropriately to address concerns.
Emotional intelligence is being aware of others' emotions, showing empathy, and understanding your own. It is an important tool for a good leader, as they can show emotional maturity toward work situations. Emotional intelligence includes self-awareness, self-confidence, empathy, and relationship management. This skill allows you to use emotion dynamically to better relate to employees, show concern to customers, and manage emotions during stressful situations.
Managing employees and projects requires making a host of decisions. From setting deadlines to handling disputes, an effective leader must analyze complex situations, gather information, and make well-informed decisions aligned with business goals. You often have to strike a balance between using data, intuition, and creativity to overcome obstacles. When you have mastered these skills, you can make the right decisions quickly when necessary, and your team will feel confident that you can handle any obstacle or risk.
Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace can create positive benefits for the company. It allows people with varying perspectives and opinions to bring their creativity and knowledge to team projects, bringing new ideas on completing tasks and overcoming challenges. Some best practices in creating a collaborative workplace are to align hiring and retention policies toward bringing in more diverse talent. Then, you can build high-performing teams using your delegation skills that can benefit the workplace.
Business changes and economic uncertainty can make for a stressful working environment. Team members need a strong leader who can adapt quickly, is resilient, bounces back from adversity, and promptly implements solutions that keep projects on track. Having resilience as a core competency allows you to become an effective leader who is flexible to situations and can make sound decisions that help with company growth.
When seeking out how to grow as a leader, a good way is to pursue professional development. Professional development allows you to learn new skills and technologies that can further your career. By learning your leadership style, you can better connect and collaborate with your team members to become a productive and cohesive group designed always to reach goals and succeed.
Some people are natural-born leaders. Others grow into the role and acquire the skills they need to manage the workplace. Whichever group you are in, you can learn and hone new leadership skills that can positively impact your career. With the eSpelman online certificate in Leading Self, Leading Others, you can develop leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills, nurture emotional intelligence, and other skills to become an exceptional leader in a dynamic and diverse workplace environment.
Reach your professional career goals by participating in this online certificate program that eSpelman, Spelman College’s online enterprise, offers. Contact us today to learn more.