Leadership skills to accelerate performance

Leadership skills to accelerate performance 

Leadership is a muscle. So says the Centre for Creative Leadership. And John Ryan, CCL’s president and CEO, believes that the leadership muscle needs to be trained. Based on his own experience in the military, higher education, and not for profits, he advises leaders to train in 5 areas. We’ll summarise these areas in this blog.

1. Teamwork and collaboration

CCL research indicates that although collaboration is viewed as a necessity by leaders, on the ground leaders don’t feel their organisations are skilled at getting it right.

We need collaboration and teamwork both internally and externally as we form the partnerships that fuel growth and success. What role are you playing in embedding and enhancing teamwork and collaboration in your organisation?

2. Managing change

Leaders play a critical role in change. Their view of change, and the view they communicate, is essential.

Be positive about change and treat it with the attention it deserves, a sense of urgency. Help others to understand the reasons why change is necessary and be flexible to adapting your plans as required. Seek input on your change design and initiatives.

3. Communication

“We should all be chief listening officers in our organisations.”

Giving your employees a voice is a critical enabler for employee engagement. And engaged employees go the extra mile, even when times are tough. Imagine being really heard by your CEO? Don’t underestimate how important this is.

Leaders – ask for ideas, listen, and tell your employees what you are doing in response.

4. Learning agility

In a fast-paced world, learning all the time is essential. That remains true whether you are starting out in your career or whether you are leading a large organisation. Your ability to keep apace with what is happening around you is essential. Walk the talk through your approach to learning.

5. Judgement

This is the core of leadership says Ryan. Strategy judgement requires leaders to find new paths by exploring, experimenting and making the right calls. Good people judgement means identifying the right people to take your business forward, people with integrity, motivation and a commitment to the company’s interest, not just their own.

Do you have enough confidence in your own judgement, or perhaps too much? Just because something always worked in the past, it doesn’t mean it will work now and in the future. We don’t live in an age where business is that predictable.

For more about the research that the CCL conducts, visit their website here.