Seven Ways to Improve your Leadership Skills
Seven Ways to Improve Your Leadership Skills
To improve your leadership skills you need to:
- Create a clear vision for a better future.
- Learn to speak emotionally.
- Build an effective team around you.
- Be prepared to work hard.
- Develop emotional toughness.
- Never give in.
- Inspire others.
1. Create a vision for a better future.
Leaders are leaders, because they have a clear vision for a better future.
For example, during the dark years, Winston Churchill promised a better future;: "You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. Victory!"
In the Bible it says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs, 29;18.
So, your first step to be a better leader is to clarify your optimistic vision.
You need to clarify: WHAT vision will you offer to your followers and WHY your vision is a good vision.
People will follow you, only if they believe that you will lead them to a brighter future.
2. Learn to speak emotionally.
People are not aroused into action by logic alone. It is passionate emotion that moves people.
Passion persuades.
That is why most great leaders are also great speakers.
Leaders speak passionately, and with conviction.
If you want to be a better leader, then study rhetoric.
Rhetoric is the art of passionate speech.
Contrary to popular opinion, rhetorical language can be learned, just like any other language.
Learn the language of leadership - study rhetoric.
3. Build an effective team around you.
Smart people tend to surround themselves with smarter friends.
Why? Because, nobody can succeed on their own.
To succeed, we all need the guidance, help, intelligence, education and experience of other people.
The Prime Minister has a cabinet to advise him.
Even Jesus enlisted the help of his friends, Peter, Paul, Mathew Mark, Luke and John and the others.
4. Be prepared to work hard.
Lazy people generally don't make great leaders.
Success in any undertaking, will take time and effort.
So, leaders must be prepared to invest much time and effort into the realisation of their vision.
The effort is mostly psychological, not physical.
To be a great leader, you don't have to sweat hard, but you WILL need to THINK hard.
5. Develop emotional toughness.
Leaders need to overcome many setbacks, problems, criticisms and defeats.
Therefore, leaders need to be emotionally resilient. Tough.
Again, this toughness is psychological not physical.
For example, Margaret Thatcher was not physically tough, but she was mentally tough.
You may remember that she known throughout the world as the Iron Lady.
If you want to be a leader, then develop an iron core.
6. Never give in.
Leaders need persistence.
After being knocked down, leaders must be prepared to get back up, again and again.
Persistence is one of the distinguishing characteristics of all great leaders.
Calvin Coolidge wrote:
"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
The slogan Press On, has solved and will always solve the problems of the human race".
7. Inspire others.
Ultimately the role of the leader is to inspire others into action.
Why? Because, without leaders, many people will sit around and do nothing.
Leaders galvanise people.
If you would be a better leader, then memorise this famous quote:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of Evil, is that good men do nothing".
Your role as a leader is to inspire people into action, to make the world a better place.
Definition: leadership skills
In business, leadership skills are a set of abilities that let a person guide others. The skills need four parts: the leader paints a clear picture of a better future, speaks with feeling to spark action, gathers and steers a strong team, and keeps mental strength and drive until the aim is reached.
Show CG4D Definition
- Creates and shares a clear vision for a better future
- Uses emotional speech to move people to act
- Builds and guides an able team
- Shows mental strength and steady drive until the goal is met
Article Summary
Strong leaders share seven acts: they picture a better tomorrow, speak with feeling, gather smart people, work with drive, stay mentally tough, refuse to quit and lift others to act. Practise these daily to improve your leadership skills and move your team forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions that frequently get asked about this topic during our training sessions.
Why is having a clear vision vital for leaders?
How can leaders learn to speak with emotion?
What qualities build an effective leadership team?
Does hard work in leadership mean physical effort?
How can I develop emotional toughness as a leader?
Why must a leader never give in?
How does inspiring others boost team success?
Thought of something that's not been answered? Ask Us Today!
Did You Know: Key Statistics
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2024 shows that teams with clear goals set by their leaders are 70% more likely to feel engaged at work. The 2025 CIPD Learning Report finds that UK firms that give leaders regular skills training see a 25% rise in staff output within twelve months.About the Author: Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has many years' experience in training leaders and managers, in both the public and private sectors, to achieve their organisational goals, especially during tough economic times. He is also well aware of the disciplines and problems associated with running a business.
Over the years, Chris has designed and delivered thousands of training programmes and has coached and motivated many management teams, groups and individuals. His training programmes are both structured and clear, designed to help delegates organise their thinking and, wherever necessary, to improve their techniques and skills.
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