Leadership Skills - The Real Competencies of the Effective Leader

The Effective Leader works at building up andstyles, techniques and communication methods to
maintaining a series of Leadership Competenciesachieve successful results and build good
which they use to do their job. By 'competencies'relationships.
we do not mean 'natural' attributes, personality4. Coaches for Improvement / Results. A Leader
styles or skills. Competency is something, eitherdevelops the potential of every Team Member
natural or learnt, which is practiced and usedand ensures that they are achieving the desired
effectively to achieve their desired goals. Forperformance. They work with each to ensure
example, someone may be charismatic, but this iseach is contributing positively to the team
only a 'competency' if they are consciously awaredynamic. They read others - to appreciate their
of this attribute, and use it purposefully tostrengths, areas for development, personality
influence others positively. Competency coversstyle, learning style and motivators. They plan a
knowledge, skills, practices and processes of thedevelopment strategy for each, and hold
Effective Leader.effective, motivating coaching sessions.
The Real Key Leadership Competencies5. Communicates Effectively. A Leader PLANS
The following is the Top 7 groups of key workinghow they communicate, identifying the objectives,
competencies. This is what the experienced,the method, the structure etc. They review the
successful Leader is actually doing, the REALoutcome of the communication and they learn
competencies -from this. They use different forms of
1. Influences Others. A Leader must have thecommunication effectively, the right channel for
ability to get others to act in the desired way.the given task. They lead meetings effectively.
They have the ability to win respect from thoseThey plan, structure and facilitate the meeting to
who must be influenced, and to build mutualachieve the desired outcome. They use their
respect. They will give directions and expectationsLeadership presence effectively in interactions, to
in an appropriate way to influence others to act,listen, respond, influence and persuade.
and they are also open to ideas and listen actively6. Works Effectively. A successful Leader plans
to others. They walk the talk, influencing otherstheir own workload, prioritising key tasks and
by modelling the behaviour, and they reinforce theensuring the appropriate allocation of time and
appropriate attitude, behaviour and performance ineffort to achieve the required results. They
others. They communicate to the group in a wayorganise and structure, building good working
that sways the group towards behaving in theprocesses, systems and habits so that they can
desired way.effectively achieve their objectives, goals and
2. Fosters Accountability. A Leader establishes intargets. They translate objectives/project
their team members a commitment to achievingrequirements into an achievable work plan,
results by building a culture of accountability. Again,anticipating obstacles. They prioritise tasks,
they model this with their behaviour, displayingestablishing a clear focus and direction for others
accountability for themselves, their own areas ofto follow. They think ahead to anticipate changing
accountability and their team. They use fairbusiness requirements which could affect priorities
processes and they organise action plans forand plans. The Effective Leader continuously
sharing workload and effort. They have openimproves. They plan what improvements they will
Team Process for identifying stress points andintroduce, when and how these improvements will
for accessing help from other Team Members.be implemented.
They promote accountability and hold each Team7. Builds a High Performing Team. The Leader
Member personally responsible for their area.ensures that their Team will achieve their Team
They react to deadline and targets with positiveGoals & targets, will achieve the desired
or corrective feedback.performance and is well placed to achieve future
3. Builds Positive Working Relationships. A LeaderINCREASED targets. They understand group
actively builds a network of positive workingdynamics and what influences this. They organises
relationships, both internally with other departmentthe Team and build good team processes. They
& colleagues, and externally with clients. Theycommunicate well to the Team, about the
take responsibility for ensuring that a relationshipbusiness, the Team Purpose, progress on goal
is positive and effective, that it works well forachievement etc. They fives feedback, celebrate
both parties. A Leader actively seeks togoal achievement and motivates to improve.
demonstrate respect for self and respect forThey challenge and encourages the team to
others. They investigate the goals, targets andimprove, find new ways of doing things and to
stressors of other departments, and of clients,develop the desired competencies and team
ensuring they work well with them to achievevalues.
common goals. They explore and use various