Some leadership skills are timeless. Both Churchill and Martin Luther King Jr. possessed many of the qualities that make great leaders today. But in today’s fast-moving, diversified business world, I believe there are four particular skills that managers need to harness if they want to experience the sweet smell of leadership success.
4 Cornerstone Habits Of The Effective Modern Manager
1. Overcoming bias in a diverse workplace
“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” — Marian Anderson
We work in very diverse environments these days. Many of our colleagues are likely to have a different background, race, ethnicity, belief, nationality and/or sexual orientation to our own.
Diversity is a huge organizational strength. At the same time, diverse points of view can cause conflict and confusion if not handled correctly.
Using collective labels about certain groups of people is a trap we all fall into sometimes. If you do that as a leader, however, you’re not taking full advantage of the skills and qualities those individuals possess. That means you’re short-changing your team and your company.
Cultivating empathy is the key to overcome biases (and we all have them). Empathic leaders are able to understand the feelings and perspectives of their employees and then use that understanding to guide their decisions and actions.
Consider this: According to the article ‘Finding the Right Level of Empathy,’ the most effective leaders emphasize cognitive over affective empathy (more ‘I see what you mean’ and less ‘I feel your pain’). This enables them to keep to their objectives and at the same time help their employees feel validated and motivated.
2. Setting and keeping clear, personal boundaries
“The art of leadership is saying no, not saying yes. It is very easy to say yes.” –Tony Blair
There’s no getting away from it. We live in a 24/7 world these days. We’re in constant communication with friends, family and colleagues, thanks to our mobile devices and the wonders of modern technology. Consequently, today’s managers can find it hard to leave work behind.
If you feel the need to accept every call, respond to every email and attend every meeting, you’re not alone. Trouble is, being in constant communication with colleagues (and others) disturbs your concentration, drains your energy, and ultimately affects your productivity. It can even lead to bad decision making because you can no longer determine what your priorities are.
Protecting your personal time starts with understanding that not every task and request is a priority. The next step is to tell your team where you have drawn your personal boundaries. For example, you will not answer emails after 8 pm or answer calls on a Sunday.
Consider this: Learn the specific skills it takes to be assertive. Assertive leaders are crystal clear about the limits they’ve set for themselves. And they’re not afraid to unplug.
3. Rolling with the punches by developing a little grit
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” –Winston Churchill
Coping with adversity by being flexible is not a new leadership skill. All great leaders have had to face and adapt to many difficult situations.
What’s different today, are changes in societal norms, values, and expectations. Mental health crises are at record highs and that is troubling for business leaders.
Experienced leaders have to deal with the rise in mental health issues in the workplace. Not an easy task. New and aspiring leaders may have to dig deep to find a resilience they may not have yet discovered.
Resilient leaders have the ability to recover quickly from temporary setbacks. They have what many would call ‘grit’. They have strength of mind to continue with their objectives, even if there are times when they’re discouraged.
Consider this: There are different strategies you can pursue to build resilience, either in your team or for yourself. They include mentorship, taking development opportunities, improving physical health, improving communication skills, strengthening working relationships, and learning to be open to different ways of doing things.
4. Building self-confidence in face-to-face situations
“Leadership is an action, not a position.” –Donald McGannon
In my work as a leadership consultant, I find self-confidence to be a quality that many leaders battle – from the emerging supervisor to senior leader.
While early career employees may have an edge with technology, flexibility, and multi-tasking there are other skills they may not be so skilled such as the nuances of effective communication. I find authentic communication to be one of the greatest challenges new and seasoned leaders face. And effective communication seems to correlate very closely to self-confidence, which is a critical element in giving feedback, setting expectations, and dealing with conflict.
For leaders, there are times when it’s impossible to communicate digitally. Whether it’s running an important planning meeting, negotiating with a new supplier or conducting an employee evaluation, having the self-confidence to conduct personal interactions is essential.
Leaders are obligated to speak their mind, exert influence and make spontaneous decisions. And that can’t be done without a decent amount of self-confidence.
Consider this: Confidence is not a matter of genetics alone. You have to work (sometimes hard) to build your confidence as a leader. Attending a leadership development course is one way to build your self-assurance. Other strategies include networking with other leaders, avoiding comparing yourself to others, focusing on solutions, and practicing public speaking with terrific organizations like Toastmasters.
To sum up:
Leaders throughout history have relied on many of the same skills and that will never change. But in the 2020’s, leaders are faced with some unique challenges.
I’ve highlighted the four qualities that I think are the cornerstones of modern leadership: overcoming bias, setting personal boundaries, rolling with the punches, and building self-confidence. Once you have those in place, you can continue to hone those other essential skills that great leaders possess.
Found this article interesting? Please share it with a new and aspiring leader that you know.
I value your input: nmaki@opengateresources.com.