September 27, 2014
Big brands and organizations are born out of the strategic thinking, business acumen, vision, personality, communication and customer prioritization skills of their executives. Executive leaders are charged with the critical responsibility of bringing new customers into the boardroom and so they must have good leadership skills. The task of growing brands and companies is onerous and requires the leader’s ability to identify the market needs and to inspire the entire workforce to deliver brands of promise. So, what are the best leadership skills for present day business leaders and executives?
Strategic Thinking
Business leaders deal with employees, customers, and investors, all of whom can influence the performance of their brands. The leader must have the capacity to visualize the future from the present and to influence other stakeholders to see and work towards the big future. Therefore, the ability to analyze prevailing market conditions, to recognize patterns and opportunities, and to make decisions that can place the organization in the position to succeed in the market are good leadership traits.
Good leaders surround themselves with the right talent and resources, and execute their strategic plans through harmonious teams. They value their employees and employers, and therefore, act with complete discipline. Nonetheless, the leaders must learn to listen properly and must act with absolute patience as they embark on their strategic visions. They must understand that most strategic thinkers are never apparently popular and should, therefore, not expect instant results.
Customer-Centric
In business leadership, nothing is more crucial than focus on the customers. Only customer-centric leadership can create brands that resonate with the clients and build customer bases exponentially. The best business leaders go for the clients, they do not wait for clients to come to them. Moreover, top executives are those who understand the market trends, what the consumers do, what the customers say, and how to influence the market to the favor of their brands. They work with carefully measured metrics and build capacity for high quality customer care. More importantly, today’s good leadership skills entail the recognition that social media has a very powerful influence on brands.
Teamwork
Gone are the days when business leaders were essentially bosses who ordered their fellows around. Today, good leaders are unselfish and create environments in which all staff members can apply their ideas, knowledge and skills for the good of the company. In the company teams, executive leaders should be enablers. They should hire the best qualified people and provide them with the requisite tools, mentoring, and training to meet the demands of their jobs. Being resolute, pragmatic, action-oriented, and flexible are good leadership skills that will enable the executive to support every member of the team to be creative and to give their best to the company.
Effective Communication
Business leaders must be able to listen attentively to all stakeholders before they can act. Therefore, even in trying circumstances, the leader should be able to maintain poise and communicate clearly. When they communicate their decisions, business executives should inspire the listeners regardless of the challenges experienced by the company. Besides, top executives should learn how to convey their visions and strategic plans to the boards and know what is expected of them. They should answer complex questions with a touch of knowledge and confidence, and should be able to know the consequences of their actions.