07
Aug

Essential Skills of Effective Leaders in the Workplace

Ineffective leadership is costing companies more than just employee morale. According to research from Gallup, “Twenty-four percent of employees are actively disengaged because of poor management, leading to teams that are less productive, less profitable, and more likely to cause turnover” (Landry,
2018). Strong leadership within an organization is necessary for companies aiming to maximize team productivity and innovation, retention, and engagement.

Let’s discuss three important skills to maximize your leadership capabilities.

1. Act decisively. The ability for a leader to make strategic decisions efficiently and clearly in complex business environments is essential to their effectiveness. A key objective of leaders should be moving the organization forward, a task which is best accomplished by adhering to and focusing on a chosen course of action unless there is a compelling reason to pivot focus (Landry, 2018).
2. Transparency. Within your organization, being transparent is a crucial element for building trust. Increased transparency about your company’s goals and challenges facilitates a clearer understanding for employees about their roles, contributions, and how these impact the overall success of the organization. Further, if employees are aware of workplace challenges, they are more capable of contributing new ideas and solutions for these difficulties.
3. Encourage innovation and risk-taking. If you want to establish and maintain your company’s competitive advantage, fostering a culture of innovation through experimentation is critical. Leaders must pave the way in this practice by actively embracing mistakes and taking decisive risks. By encouraging risk-taking and innovation, employees are more likely to propose new ideas, while feeling valued as a team member for their creativity. (Landry, 2018).

At Thompson Consulting Group we aim to help all managers navigate the path to effective leadership and provide them with comprehensive services along the way. Leadership assessments and employee opinion surveys provide an understanding of individual leadership styles and leader goals, and executive coaching sessions and development and strategic planning are designed to help managers execute these goals while increasing their effectiveness as leaders.

Source:
Landry, L. (2018, October 4). 6 characteristics of an effective leader: HBS Online. Business Insights Blog. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/characteristics-of-an-effective-leader