December 5th, 2010 
jvremec
Leaders Under Construction – Developing Leadership Skills
Author: Akhil Shahani
Are leaders born or made?
While developing leadership skills at an early stage has its advantages, it’s never too late to start if you haven’t yet discovered the leader in you! And that’s not a whole load of motivational hogwash.
In this piece, let’s take a look at the why and how of developing leadership skills.
Successful management requires more than just assigning tasks to the team. It calls for a leader who can inspire team members to achieve their full potential. People want to be guided by a person they respect, someone who has a clear sense of direction. To be that person, there are certain things that you must BE, KNOW and DO. And that’s what developing leadership skills is all about.
Robert K. Greenleaf
”The only test of leadership is that somebody follows.”
If you want to set an example for others to follow, may we suggest the following check-list?
1. Test the waters: find out what people think about your style of management. This could be a real eye opener, and the key to making changes to your leadership style. Employ a 360 degree approach wherein you receive feedback from your team members and peers. Let your team in on the objective behind the survey. A relaxed and open environment will help draw out their honest opinion.
2. Listen hard: when your team members speak to you about all their work related worries, hear them out. You could convey empathy, suggest alternatives and create harmony within the team. GREAT LEADERS ARE GREAT LISTENERS!!!!!
3. Connect: take complete responsibility for how you are heard. Always rephrase your message to make it sound positive. Effective communication is a fine art.
4. Be a people’s person: an integral part of developing leadership skills is to learn to respect your team’s capabilities. Let the team members take decisions on certain issues. Trust them with their work; don’t be a watchdog.
5. Lead by example: your team must believe in your integrity, and that you really mean what you say. Be prepared to put your money where your mouth is. It works like a charm!
6. Share leadership: distribute tasks among group members depending on the situation and individual strengths. You become a better leader by involving more people in the leadership process.
7. Evaluate your success in tandem with that of the team: your prime responsibility is to ensure success and development of the team. Focus on building their skills as this will enhance motivation and team performance. Remember, their success is yours too!
Harvey S. Firestone said “The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” We couldn’t agree more!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/leadership-articles/leaders-under-construction-developing-leadership-skills-409430.html
About the Author
Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special “Freebie of The Month” at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html
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will the PLC program actually develop leadership skills?
I’m currently a junior attending college in san jose and i wanted to get an internship in the summer to acquire experience; however, due to financial difficulties i’ll have to move back home to san francisco. I was thinking of either going to community college to finish up some general ed. classes, or going to the marines for the 10-week PLC program. Is the PLC program worth going? is it worth the money let alone the crazy physical training? will leadership skills actually be acquired or is this program just a bunch of BS?
Time spent in leadership oriented training is NEVER a waste. We in the military invented leadership! As for the marines; if you don’t fall for the bluster of thinking you’re all that because of the commercials, enjoy.
Is it too late for a 48 year old to develop leadership skills?
Say you’re a 48 year old who never was a manager at a job. You’re not a follower, but you’re certainly not a leader either. You find the proposition of being a manager frightening! Is it too late for an 48 year old to develop leadership skills?
No. There are classes and good books. The biggest thing about being a leader is always be willing to jump in and help.
Developing leadership skills?
I work at a job that pays an hourly wage. I want to move up into management, however I have no management experience. My superior told me that, in order to move up, I need to develop more leadership skills, such as delegating work and managing time. How can I do this without appearing like an asshole to my co-workers?
Being promoted from within and being among your coworkers, you will almost always end up looking like an asshole.
Techniques to help develop leadership skills in teaching?
What are some techniques that can help develop leadership skills in teaching?
I looked everywhere on the internet and can’t seem to find any.
Can someone please help? Thanks so much! It’s greatly appreciated!
How do you say “Leadership Skills” in Spanish?
The sentence I need to translate to Spanish is:
“Students will develop leadership skills through service projects”