Top 20 Leadership Skills Every Manager Needs to Succeed

As a manager, you need to be able to lead your team effectively and efficiently. The best way to do this is by developing the necessary leadership skills that will allow you to deliver results and reach goals in your job. The 20 must-have leadership skills every successful manager needs revolve around these key areas: 

List Of Essential Leadership Skills

• Communication Skills 

• Articulate Thoughts 

• Listening 

• Negotiation 

• Conflict Management 

• Decision Making Skills 

• Reasoning & Justification 

• Prepare to make difficult choices 

• Emotional Intelligence 

• Empathy 

• Self-Awareness 

• Self-Regulation 

• Ability to handle stress 

• Problem Solving Skills 

• Think Strategically 

• Ability to analyze problems 

• Relationship & Teamwork Skills 

• Ability to build relationships 

• Planning & Organizing Skills 

• Delegation Skills 

• Delegate tasks & responsibility effectively 

• Career Development & Planning Skills 

• Set clear goals and objectives 

• Self-Assessment skills 

• People Management Skills 

• Demonstration Trust 

• Acknowledgement and Recognition 

• Motivation 

• Inspiring Team Members 

• Instilling Passion 

• Empower Team members 

What is Leadership? 

Leadership is the ability to motivate, inspire and guide people towards a common goal. It is about setting the direction for others and then helping them to achieve their objectives. Leaders need to be able to articulate their vision and then motivate and inspire others to buy into it. They also need to be able to provide direction and guidance, while creating an environment where people can thrive. 

The most successful leaders are those who possess a combination of essential skills, including: 

1. Communication: Leaders need to be able to effectively communicate their vision and ideas to others. They must be able to clearly articulate their thoughts and ensure that their message is understood by all. The ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and persuasively is absolutely essential for any leader who wants to be successful. If you can’t get your point across in a way that others will understand and buy into, you’ll never be able to lead effectively. 

2. Decision Making Skills: As a leader, part of your job is to make decisions – sometimes difficult ones. You need to be able to weigh all the relevant factors, make a decision, and then stand by it. That takes confidence, courage, and conviction. 

3. Motivation: Leaders need to be able to motivate and inspire others to achieve their goals. They must be passionate about what they do and have the ability to instill that same passion in others. 

4. Inspiration: Leaders need to be able to provide inspiration for others. They must have the ability to lift people up when they are down and help them see the possibilities that lie ahead. 

5. Direction: Leaders need to be able provide direction and guidance for others. They must be able set a clear path forward and then help people stay on track as they work towards their goals. 

6. Empowerment: Leaders need to empower others by giving them the tools and resources they need to succeed. They must also create an environment where people feel empowered to take risks and innovate. 

7. Emotional Intelligence: A good leader needs to be able to understand and manage their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. This includes being able to keep cool under pressure, handle conflict effectively, and build strong relationships with those they lead. 

8. Problem-Solving Skills: Leaders are often presented with problems that need to be solved – sometimes quickly and under pressure. Having strong problem-solving skills is essential for any leader 

Leadership Skills: Characteristics of a Leader 

A leader is somebody who can take charge of a situation and guide others through it. A leader has the ability to inspire and motivate people, to help them see the bigger picture and work towards a common goal. A leader is also somebody who can make tough decisions and stand by them, even when things get tough. 

Leaders need to have a clear vision for what they want to achieve, and be able to communicate this vision to others in a way that inspires them to work towards it. Leaders also need to be able to build trust and rapport with those they are leading, as this is essential for getting people on board with their plans. Finally, leaders must be willing to put in the hard work required to make their vision a reality. 

Leadership Skills: Problem solving skills 

Leaders are problem solvers. They identify issues and find solutions that create a better outcome for their team or organization. 

To be an effective leader, you need to have strong problem solving skills. This means being able to identify problems, brainstorm potential solutions, and implement the best solution. 

Some of the best problem solving skills include: 

• Creative thinking: This involves coming up with new and innovative ideas to solve problems. 

• Critical thinking: This involves analyzing problems and identifying the root cause. 

• Problem solving strategies: This involves knowing which methods or techniques to use to solve different types of problems. 

Leadership Skills: Decision making skills 

Decision making is one of the most important skills a leader can possess. The ability to make sound decisions quickly and effectively is critical to the success of any organization. 

There are a few key things to keep in mind when making decisions as a leader:  

1. Always consider the long-term implications of your decisions. short-sightedness can lead to disastrous consequences. 

2. Be sure to consult with your team and get input from others before making final decisions. It’s important to consider different perspectives before settling on a course of action. 

3. Trust your instincts. In many cases, your gut feeling is the best guide you have for making tough decisions. 

4. Be prepared to make difficult choices. Sometimes the right decision isn’t always the popular one, but it’s important to do what you believe is best for the company or organization as a whole. 

Leadership Skills: Communication skills 

Communication skills are critical for any leader. The ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively is essential in any leadership role. 

There are a few key elements to good communication: 

• Listening: It’s important to be a good listener as a leader. You need to be able to hear what your team is saying, understand their concerns, and be able to respond accordingly. 

• Speaking: A leader needs to be able to speak clearly and confidently. This doesn’t mean you have to be the best public speaker in the world, but you should be able to get your point across without confusing or frustrating your team.  

• Writing: In today’s business world, much of our communication is done in writing. Whether it’s emails, reports, or presentations, a leader needs to be able to communicate effectively in writing. 

Good communication skills are essential for any leader who wants to be successful. By honing your listening, speaking, and writing skills, you can set yourself up for success in any leadership role. 

Leadership Skills: Negotiation tactics and conflict resolution skills 

In order to successfully lead a team, a manager must be skilled in negotiation and conflict resolution. By definition, negotiation is a process in which two or more parties attempt to reach an agreement on a course of action while conflict resolution is the process of resolving a disagreement between two or more parties. 

There are many different negotiation tactics that can be employed in order to reach an agreement, and the best tactic to use will depend on the situation at hand. However, some common negotiation tactics include: 

• Offering concessions: This tactic involves giving up something in order to gain something else. For example, if you are trying to negotiate a higher salary, you may offer to work longer hours or take on additional responsibilities. 
• Making threats: This tactic is often used as a last resort and involves threatening to walk away from the negotiations or taking some sort of negative action if an agreement is not reached.  
• Splitting the difference: This tactic involves both parties agreeing to meet in the middle of their respective demands. 

For example, if you are trying to negotiate a higher salary, you may agree to accept a lower salary than you originally requested but higher than what your employer was initially offering. 

Conflict resolution skills are just as important as negotiation skills when it comes to being a successful leader. After all, there will be times when disagreements arise within the team that need to be addressed. And while it’s important to encourage healthy debate and discussion among team members 

Leadership Skills: Relationships and Teamwork Skills 

Though leadership and management are two different terms, they are often used interchangeably. A leader is someone who can influence people to achieve a common goal, while a manager is someone who is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the work of a team. 

While there are many different skills that a leader needs to be successful, some of the most important ones relate to relationships and teamwork. After all, a leader cannot achieve anything without the support of their team. 

Here are some essential relationships and teamwork skills that every leader needs: 

• The ability to build relationships: A good leader knows how to build positive relationships with their team members. This includes being able to communicate effectively, show respect, and be supportive. 

• The ability to resolve conflict: Conflict is inevitable in any group setting. A good leader knows how to manage conflict in a way that leads to a resolution that is satisfactory for all parties involved.  

• The ability to delegate: A good leader knows how to delegate tasks and responsibility in order to make the best use of their team’s skills and abilities. This also includes being able to give constructive feedback. 

• The ability to motivate: A good leader knows how to motivate their team members in order to get the best out of them. This may include providing incentives, offering praise or recognition, or simply setting a good example. 

Planning and Organizing skills

Leadership Skills: Planning and Organizing skills are essential for every manager in order to succeed. A good manager will always be one step ahead, planning and preparing for whatever may come their way. They will have a well-organized work space and schedule, so that they can easily find what they need and get things done efficiently. 

Being able to plan and organize effectively will help a manager to be more successful in achieving their goals. It is also important to be able to delegate tasks and responsibility to others, so that the work can be completed more efficiently. Having good communication skills is also vital in order to give clear instructions and feedback. 

Leadership Skills: Delegation skills 

Delegation is a critical leadership skill for any manager. The ability to delegate effectively can mean the difference between success and failure in any organization. 

Delegation skills involve the ability to assign tasks and responsibilities to others, while still maintaining control over the overall project or goal. Good delegation skills require clear communication, trust, and an understanding of both the capabilities of the person being delegated to, and the objectives of the project. 

Without delegation, managers will quickly become overwhelmed with work, and will be unable to focus on the most important tasks. Additionally, delegation allows managers to develop their team members by giving them more responsibility and authority. 

When delegating tasks, it is important to be clear about what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and what the expected outcome is. Additionally, it is important to provide adequate support and resources to those who are being delegated to. 

Finally, good delegation skills also require follow-up and feedback. Follow-up ensures that tasks are actually being completed as assigned, and that deadlines are being met. Feedback allows managers to provide guidance and coaching as needed, while also ensuring that the team member feels empowered and motivated. 

Leadership Skills: Career Development or Career Planning Skills 

There are a variety of skills that fall under the umbrella of career development or career planning. Perhaps the most important is the ability to set clear goals and objectives. Without a goal, it can be difficult to map out a plan for reaching success. Additionally, strong research and self-assessment skills are necessary for understanding what steps need to be taken in order to achieve desired results. 

Of course, no career planning process would be complete without taking into account the ever-changing landscape of the workforce. Therefore, staying up-to-date on industry trends and changes is essential for any manager wanting to stay ahead of the curve. Finally, being able to mentor and guide others through their own career planning journey can not only lead to individual success but also create a more cohesive and productive team environment. 

Conclusion