The top 3 leadership skills for everyone

“Leadership is for bosses and team leaders. As long as that’s not me, I don’t care.”

We say: Wrong! 

 

Leadership competencies are not only important for managers. It is about much more than the behavior and strategies of people with personnel responsibility: it is about managing oneself, one’s tasks, projects and relationships in all hierarchical directions. Strong leadership skills help us all do our best in our day-to-day jobs and succeed as team players in the long run. Below we present our top 3 leadership skills that everyone can apply professionally and personally.

Leadership for self-development

We are constantly confronted with various challenges in the course of our work – some evolutionary, some revolutionary. Some positive, understandable and simple. Some others new, complex and initially overwhelming. No matter what kind of challenge we face, we can overcome it thanks to the Growth Mindset. Instead of frustration and despair, we try to understand the situation and resolutely develop the suitable solution. Your own thinking and actions determine how you yourself and also your team deal with the challenge.

 

In our post “The impossible is nothing-Mindset” you can learn more about the Growth Mindset and the effect it has on us and those around us. Because neither for ourselves nor for the long-term success of our company is it advisable to bury our heads in the sand or even to blame others for the situation. In the spirit of leadership, it is important to develop ourselves further, to be open to new things and to keep learning.

 

The Growth Mindset is a leadership aspect that can feel quite difficult. But we can guarantee you one thing: assuming leadership through your own openness and the self-confidence you radiate with it will pay off in the long run. Your colleagues and superiors will be grateful for your input and clear-headedness, but they will also appreciate your interest in other perspectives and in finding solutions together.

 

Leadership for team play

Teams have many names: The pit crew in Formula 1, the teammates on the soccer field, or the relay team in running. No matter what you call them, they have one thing in common: all members are fully behind the team and committed to its success. But success doesn’t come down to the driver, captain or tail runner – the team leaders – alone, but to the entire team.

The ability to solve emerging challenges and conflicts internally is what makes teams unique. This also requires leadership skills from each and every individual, because it requires open communication, active listening and the willingness to compromise. With the awareness that every team consists of different characters with diverse strengths, expertise and knowledge, there is no need for elbowing or fighting to get your own way. Being part of the team is about the best common result, which comes from sharing and making decisions.

 

You know your skills and responsibilities and those of your colleagues, you act with a common vision and focus your goals as a team. Thanks to your communication, you prevent misunderstandings, work on the right things and also address unpleasant topics, because you respect and value each other for your individuality. Close communicative cooperation acts as a fugue between the individual members and forms long-term and resilient relationships.

 

Focus on results

Game, set and match. It could be so simple. But when we’re not on the tennis court, continued success requires a long-term performance orientation. Although a leader often sets the pace, it is the team itself that pulls together with all its might to implement the rhythm. Again, your leadership skills in terms of result orientation are in demand!

The rhythm set by the leaders corresponds to the company goals, which are partly set by management or, even better, co-created by all employees from the outset, as described by us in the blog “OKRs: Agile management and goal-setting made easy”. It is important to understand that all employees have an influence on the quarterly goals and should use this opportunity for co-determination. By doing so, everyone lives leadership and responsibility in helping to shape the company’s success and future. A motivated team will be able to use this opportunity to deliver top performance.

Leadership skill are important for all

So you see: Leadership cannot be reduced to leaders. Everyone lives and experiences leadership skills, and for good reason: True to the motto Leading from the Inside, leadership starts with ourselves, affects the way we work together and is reflected in the results. We are convinced that our presented competencies will support you and that you will achieve top performances with your team.

Have a successful tryout and “leadershipping”!