With the changing work culture and structures in workplaces, the definitions of leadership are also evolving. The traditional notion that only managers, supervisors, or CEOs could be considered leaders in the workplace is no longer valid.
Due to the emergence of alternative structures such as freelance and gig cultures, it has become necessary to possess leadership skills when collaborating with small teams for projects. Even when working alongside gig workers like yourself, it is vital to have essential leadership skills in order to effectively manage your projects and ensure their progress.
Key Leadership Skills You Need to Know in 2023
As the freelance and gig cultures become prominent in workplaces, the demand for leaders who possess specific skills increases. Consequently, individuals with essential leadership skills have a higher employability rate in comparison to their counterparts. Therefore, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the following key leadership skills for the year 2023:
1. Building and maintaining relationships
Good leaders recognize the importance of their team and their individuals and acknowledge the mutual benefits between a leader and their team. Consequently, fostering and upholding relationships is a fundamental skill that leaders must have. When assuming a leadership position, individuals are required to engage and cooperate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
In order to achieve success, it is necessary for the leader to possess the ability to effectively communicate with and relate to their people. Additionally, proficient leaders should grasp the skill of uniting team members by means of common goals and a shared vision. Consequently, this results in enhanced team cohesion, cooperation, and the ability to resolve conflicts, ultimately leading to the emergence of a high-performing team.
2. Emotional intelligence and regulation
As a leader, it is necessary for you to be emotionally balanced as you may be familiar with the saying “Don’t allow your emotions to overpower you.”
To be a good leader, it is important to remain composed in stressful situations, enabling clear thinking and effective decision-making. Acquiring the skill of emotional regulation is crucial in attaining this state of mind. Understanding one’s emotions and responding in a more efficient manner are key factors in becoming an effective leader.
In the same way, leaders who possess emotional intelligence can comprehend the emotional indications displayed by their team members. These abilities in leadership allow them to uplift the team’s morale by providing the necessary support in that specific instance. Moreover, emotionally intelligent leaders excel in resolving conflicts and making wise decisions.
3. Problem-solving
Being a leader requires a lot of time spent on problem-solving because one of the important skills in leadership is the ability to fix issues for customers, stakeholders, and teams. Whenever there is an emergency, team members always turn to the leader for guidance and advice. It is essential for leaders to be creative and innovative in coming up with solutions, as they have the final say in every decision.
Instead of solving everything on their own, a skilled leader will involve their team in the problem-solving process. They will recognize the capabilities of each team member and effectively incorporate their strengths throughout the problem-solving journey.
4. Decision making
Significant responsibilities are inherent to great power. Leaders, who possess authority and energy, bear the burden of making challenging decisions; frequently, the future of both the company and its employees hinges on these decisions.
In order to be an effective leader, it is crucial to make prompt, deliberate, and well-considered decisions even when facing stressful circumstances. This is particularly important in challenging situations where informed choices are not possible, as leaders must be able to foresee the consequences of their decisions. This enables the organization and teams to be prepared for both favorable and unfavorable outcomes.
5. Learning and upskilling
With the changing world and the emergence of many new things, there are numerous opportunities for learning each day. From advancements in technology to current trends, staying willing to learn and improve skills is crucial for effective leadership in 2023. It is unrealistic for a leader, even with authority and power, to possess all knowledge.
To find better solutions and make informed decisions, leaders need to stay current with the latest developments and trends. Therefore, it is essential for them to continually learn from online resources, conventions, seminars, and their colleagues. Utilizing the best resources for upskilling and expanding their leadership skills will enable them to effectively guide their team.
6. Mentoring and coaching
True leaders have the ability to recognize the potential of their employees and motivate them to reach their full potential. They possess an understanding of the distinct skills possessed by each subordinate and make certain that these talents are effectively utilized.
One of the most crucial leadership skills in 2023 is mentoring and coaching associates to foster their growth. Ultimately, when employees are well mentored, they become valuable assets to the organization, and the norm becomes continuous growth.
7. Responsibility delegation
Authentic leadership involves understanding that you don’t have to do everything on your own, but it requires the ability to guide the team in completing tasks in the most efficient manner. Hence, delegating responsibilities is considered one of the most desirable skills in leadership.
The leader must possess the ability to assess the team’s capacity and distribute tasks in a way that prevents the team from becoming overwhelmed or tired. It is important for them to acquire the ability to divide the work based on the available resources and ensure that the workload is evenly distributed among the teams.
8. Organizational skills
In order for team members to respect their leaders, the leaders must establish themselves as trustworthy figures. This necessitates that disorganized leaders make an effort to do so, as disarray creates disorder and confusion within the organization. Additionally, a leader’s lack of organization sends an incorrect message to the team, implying that such conduct is tolerable.
9. Agility and adaptability
In 2008, a study conducted by Development Dimensions International identified facilitation of change as one of the crucial leadership qualities. Moving ahead to 2022, adaptability has emerged as one of the key leadership skills.
Leaders must adapt and develop agility in order to contend with various factors, such as a hyper-competitive business environment, geo-politics, climate change, the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and many other factors.
Being able to adapt to both internal and external changes is essential for effective leaders, even if it requires stepping outside of their comfort zones. To stay abreast of industry shifts and maintain a competitive edge for their business, leaders must embrace a lifelong learning mindset. However, becoming agile and adaptable as a leader is no simple task.
To develop leadership agility and adaptability, it is important to be accountable and take responsibility. It is essential to create a plan for responding to change. This plan should include a realistic timeline, enabling regular assessment of progress in adapting to and demonstrating this to your team.
10. Innovation and creativity
Every company needs to prioritize innovation in leadership. The first step towards successful innovation is ideation, which involves developing exceptional ideas that serve as the basis for successful innovation.
In considering certain industry leaders, what was the key to Apple’s achievement as a leading company in the technology industry? They developed product innovations with their customers’ needs in focus.
Steve Jobs, and possibly even more so Tim Cook, were at the forefront of forging ahead of competing companies, making them some of the most innovative leaders in the tech industry during their time at Apple Inc.
Executives must continue to harness their leadership skills in creativity and innovation in order to remain effective and competitive, due to the consistent growth in demand for these qualities.
11. Employee motivation
In close association with building relationships, it is equally important to keep employee engagement high as it is to have the ability to motivate your workforce. Knowing how to continuously motivate employees is one of the most effective leadership skills, which necessitates leaders staying connected to their teams and being attentive to their surroundings.
According to a study conducted by the firm Interact, which surveyed 10,000 employees in the US, the main complaint (63%) expressed by employees regarding their managers was a lack of appreciation. Conversely, it was found that when managers acknowledge and value their employees’ contributions, their level of engagement increases by 60%.
According to a study conducted by Westminster College, it was discovered that the preferred motivational technique for employees is boosting morale, which accounts for 32%. When employees lack motivation, the company may face negative consequences in terms of financial impact, including absenteeism, attrition, and low productivity.
Motivated employees, due to their engagement and self-confidence, possess the knowledge to effectively handle challenging situations and generate groundbreaking ideas that enhance business performance.
12. Conflict management
Managers spend at least 24% of their time managing conflict, as stated by the American Management Association. Conflict has the potential to occur in any area of business.
Conflict in business can extend beyond the workplace, as it includes customers, suppliers, and even competitors. It is defined as any issue between two or more individuals that has the potential to disrupt work.
An effective leader should have the ability to step in and address a conflict promptly, either resolving it completely or minimizing its negative impact on the business. Skillful management of conflicts can even result in positive outcomes for the organization, such as fostering stronger connections or generating fresh ideas.
In order to be a successful leader, it is necessary to possess the ability to recognize conflicts and have the ability to find solutions. Additionally, it is crucial to remain logical when confronted with disagreements. Conflict management is undeniably a vital skill for leaders, but according to Robyn Short, a study revealed that 60% of American workers have not undergone any training in conflict management.
Developing conflict management skills in your team is equally important as a leader’s ability to manage conflict, as it can prevent conflict from arising.
13. Negotiation
According to Skills You Need, the process of negotiation consists of six stages, during which two parties with different ideals come together and reach a mutual agreement on what the desired outcome should be.
- Preparation
- Discussion
- Clarification of goals
- Negotiation towards a Win-Win outcome
- Agreement
- Implementation of a course of action
Having good negotiations can bring benefits to an organization as they foster stronger relationships, both internally and externally. Additionally, they aid in the discovery of optimal long-term solutions by maximizing the potential of conflicting parties. To propel an organization forward, a proficient leader must possess a thorough understanding of their negotiation approach.
Negotiation is employed by leaders to grasp the interests of their employees and discover means to fulfill those interests, with the aim of accomplishing organizational objectives.
14. Critical thinking
Leading a business is undeniably difficult. In order to achieve success, leaders are required to make numerous challenging decisions, especially when facing time constraints. According to research conducted by the Brandon Hall Group, critical thinking stands as the paramount skill that leaders need to possess in order to efficaciously guide an organization.
Critical thinking involves the capacity to think clearly and establish logical connections among various concepts. Individuals who possess critical thinking skills are usually adept at making intelligent decisions, demonstrating a high level of analytical thinking, and consistently employing rational thought processes.
