Skill Challenges of Leaders
It’s not only internal challenges that you will face as a leader. Some leadership challenges come down to the variety of skills it takes to lead effectively.
The good news is that all skills can be learned, honed and improved. While some take more work than others, but every challenge to your skills and abilities as a leader is an opportunity to take yourself and your team to the next level.
Here’s a list of leadership skill challenges we’re all likely to face –
KEEPING YOUR TEAM INSPIRED AND MOTIVATED.
As a leader, it goes with the territory to keep your team focused on a purpose, to inspire them with a shared vision and encourage them as you accomplish your goals together. This isn’t always easy.
People are people – we’re emotional beings with highs and lows. And it’s up to the leader to inspire and motivate their team through all of those times, even as we work on our own internal motivational challenges.
DEVELOPING, COACHING AND MENTORING YOUR EMPLOYEES.
People want to grow in their careers, and want to be noticed for doing their part. It’s our job to make sure they move forward, and to make sure our people know that we appreciate them.
That means paying attention, listening actively and making a genuine effort to help your team value their own strengths, find fulfillment and grow toward their potential.
DEVELOPING YOUR OWN SKILLS.
The more you spend your time and energy helping your team grow and develop their skills, the harder it can be to intentionally develop your own.
Just as you want to make sure you’re filling your own well in terms of emotional rest and self-care, you want to make sure you’re able to provide for your own intellectual and professional well-being.
GUIDING CHANGE.
Understanding how things are going to be different, planning for it and accounting for the fallout falls within our area of responsibility.
Reassuring teams when things are uncertain and encouraging them when they’re resistant to change. The challenge for the leader is to provide consistency and clarity through it all.
MAKING THE HARD DECISIONS.
Leadership is full of tough decisions, and it’s the leader’s job to stare those tough decisions down. That can be hard, but even harder can be the idea of living with the decisions you’ve made.
Some decisions you can easily walk back if you need to, but there’s a good chance the toughest decisions come with no take backs. You make your bed, you lie in it. Great leaders can make those difficult decisions… and sleep through the night afterwards.
Which of these skill challenges have you faced or are currently experiencing? How do you plan to overcome them?
