Research over the past few decades has shown us that the most important leadership qualities are centered around soft skills and emotional intelligence. But do these skills point to deeper competencies? A survey of 195 leaders from more than 30 global organizations suggests that there are five major themes of competencies that strong leaders exhibit:
· High ethical standards and providing a safe environment
· Empowering individuals to self-organize
· Promoting connection and belonging among employees
· Open to new ideas and experimentation
· Committed to the professional and intellectual growth of employees
While many of these competencies may seem obvious, they are difficult for leaders to master because to do so would require them to act against their nature. Individuals are not hardwired to relinquish control or be open to small failures. The ability to actively improve these competencies should be a priority for leaders.
What makes an effective leader? This question is a focus of my research as an organizational scientist, executive coach, and leadership development consultant. Looking for answers, I recently completed the first round of a study of 195 leaders in 15 countries over 30 global organizations. Participants were asked to choose the 15 most important leadership competencies from a list of 74. I’ve grouped the top ones into five major themes that suggest a set of priorities for leaders and leadership development programs. While some may not surprise you, they’re all difficult to master, in part because improving them requires acting against our nature.
See The Original Blog:
https://hbr.org/2016/03/the-most-important-leadership-competencies-according-to-leaders-around-the-world?fbclid=IwAR0tnXMFKnnhqaVadU_Y0kVFY2C919DqV5yH3QgjD3BeoA4s7cTy2DZJb3U
