Regardless of whether or not you see yourself going into a leadership role, brushing up on some leadership skills is never a bad idea! And if you ask us, there’s no better time to do it; it is International Leadership Week, after all.
So, get comfy and tune in because we’re about to teach you what real leadership is all about, how to put leadership skills on your resume, and how to demonstrate leadership in the workplace. Trust us, this article isn’t one to miss.
Introducing International Leadership Week!
Let’s face it; the last few years have been challenging for all of us. The world has changed a lot, and our approach to leadership needs to change as well. That’s why the leadership training encouraged by International Leadership Week is so crucial; we all need to step up and do our part.
As this year’s theme, ‘Re-Inventing Leadership,’ suggests, this doesn’t mean blindly following the leadership styles of those who came before us. Rather, it means creating your own leadership style that’s true to you and helps your community. We know this sounds like a pretty tall order, but if you give it your best and follow our instructions, we’re willing to bet that you’ll come out on top!
What Is Leadership?
Before we delve into the leadership skills that you’ll want to focus on and the leadership training that could take your employability to the next level, we need to cover the basics. Namely, we need to figure out the answer to ‘what is leadership?’
According to Forbes, leadership can be defined as ‘a process of social influence, which maximises the efforts of others towards the achievement of a goal.’ Essentially, it’s all about taking responsibility for yourself and others, empowering others to reach collective goals and working towards collective success.
However, we think it’s equally important to address what leadership is not, as the answer often gets muddled up.
- Leadership is not bossing others around or using manipulative tactics.
- Leadership is not working with your own best interests in mind and neglecting the collective goal of your group.
- Leadership is not working in a management role and neglecting the needs of your team.
What we’re trying to say is that power, rank and status do not equate to leadership. You have to display honourable qualities and the ability to guide and motivate others towards the greater good!
Why Leadership Skills Are Important
Leadership skills influence all aspects of a team environment. Essentially, they can be the difference between a toxic workplace and one in which all team members are reaching their full potential.
However, if you’re looking for some concrete examples of the importance of leadership skills, our top three are as follows:
Leaders Inspire Change
When no one steps up to lead or unhelpful leadership styles come into play, it’s much more difficult for teams to implement positive changes. However, with strong leadership skills, you can guide your team towards a culture of innovation and improvement!
Leaders Help People Learn and Grow
We all know the feeling of being the new person in a group environment. It can be super tricky to drive your own learning, and that’s where people with leadership skills come in. They can identify what newcomers and existing team members need help with, guide them towards personal growth, and help them achieve their dreams.
Leaders Create Healthy Team Environments
When leaders aren’t encouraging their teams to work together, it’s easy for a work environment to descend into chaos. However, when people step up and demonstrate leadership skills, it can help to create a healthy and positive working environment.
What Leadership Skills to Put on Your Resume
Great leadership is made up of tonnes of different skills; so, to be truly successful, you should be working to improve in all areas! If you ask us, some of the most important leadership skills to include in your resume are:
Communication
Communication is a crucial leadership skill because it allows you to effectively get your ideas across and prevent miscommunications. Those with the strongest leadership abilities are always great communicators, and if you think your communication needs some work, upskilling is simple! All you need to do is spend a little more time socialising.
Delegation
Your self-directed leadership training should absolutely include working on your delegation. Organising and delegating tasks to a group requires a strategic approach that doesn’t sound too bossy or too shy; in essence, you’re walking a fine line. Work on this leadership skill by taking charge in group projects once in a while.
Conflict Resolution
If you’re the person who is always deescalating disagreements in your friend group, you may already be highly skilled in conflict resolution. Learning to resolve fights with friends, family, and teammates is a great way to do some leadership training. After all, things in the workplace aren’t always smooth sailing; the team will need someone able to iron out tension.
Decision Making
While making decisions can be tough, nobody gets anything done in a team that’s plagued with indecision. However, the good news is that it’s easy to work on this leadership skill; next time your friend asks you what you want to do or where you want to eat, simply offer a suggestion instead of flipping the question back on them.
Teamwork
Teamwork is probably the most important leadership skill that a person can possess. After all, without teamwork, you wouldn’t have anyone to lead! Commit to some casual leadership training by taking charge in group discussions or during your extracurricular activities.
Collaboration
A super important part of leadership is recognising that every member of your team has a unique skill of perspective to offer. When we draw on everyone’s strengths rather than doing everything ourselves, we end up with a better result. That’s why collaboration is a crucial leadership skill!
FAQ: Leadership Skills and Styles
Okay, so you know why leadership is so important, how to start your self-directed leadership training, and what leadership skills to focus on. However, we’re willing to bet that you still have a few questions. To help you fully understand the nuances of leadership this International Leadership Week, we’ve covered all our bases with a comprehensive FAQ, so keep reading to find all the answers!
Question: Can Leadership Skills Be Learned?
Answer: Absolutely! You can work on improving your leadership skills in many different environments such as during school, extracurricular clubs, and when hanging out with your friends.
Question: Leadership Skills vs. Management Skills: What’s the Difference?
Answer: Managers don’t always possess leadership skills. Leadership is about guiding a team towards a common goal, it isn’t dependent on a role, title, or status.
Question: How Will Leadership Skills Help Me in The Future?
Answer: Leadership skills are highly valued by employers. Putting leadership skills on your resume could help your chances of landing a job and will help you excel in work environments, too.
Question: Are Leadership Skills Soft Skills?
Answer: Yes, leadership skills are soft skills. However, while leadership skills like teamwork, communication and delegation aren’t technical, they’re still crucial.
Question: How Do I Demonstrate Leadership Skills?
Answer: The best way to demonstrate leadership skills is by helping to guide your team towards success in an ethical way and valuing the contributions of others.
Get Career Ready Today!
Now that you’ve mastered the basics of leadership, we think it’s time to take things one step further. Head over to our Get Career Ready blog posts and learn how to best prepare for your journey into the workforce!
