In the realm of government and municipal management, leadership skills are the key ingredients that make the difference between success and disappointment.
True leaders build teams, motivate others, model positive behaviours, set a vision and create a blueprint for achieving it. Where city managers are effective leaders, civic engagement is high, and citizens come together to solve problems, rather than retreat to warring partisan camps.
Mastering the art of leadership is easier said than done, of course. Recently, RealBusiness chronicled 14 qualities that comprise central elements of leadership, in business, in government and in life:
Clear communication
State goals and objectives plainly. Give open and honest feedback. Provide reasons for directives and policies. Keep your door open and facilitate access.
Flexibility
Doing things “by the book” has its place, especially when it comes to compliance issues. But for day-to-day operations, a leader needs to be able to pivot in an instant, change plans and find quick solutions to unexpected obstacles.
Accountability
It’s hard to respect a blame-shifter, which is why they don’t make good team leaders. Leadership requires accountability, a “buck stops here” mentality.
Delegation
Micromanagers are rarely good team leaders. A key leadership skill is the ability to find good people and allow them enough flexibility to do their jobs.
Problem-solving
Almost every managerial role requires this skill. Even when your professional card carries a lofty title, your real job is solving and anticipating problems.
Confidence
Confidence is a winning trait in all aspects of life, and it’s something that can’t be faked. It’s also something others notice quickly — either the confidence exuded by a leader or the lack of it.
Positive attitude
Like confidence, attitude is contagious and obvious to everyone around you. Setting an upbeat tone also sets the atmosphere for the workday, and creates an atmosphere for productivity.
Continuous learning
The smartest people typically aren’t simply those with advanced degrees. The best and brightest, the smartest and wisest, are professionals who keep learning throughout their lives, adding to their store of knowledge with each day and each new challenge.
Ability to motivate others
To delegate, a team leader needs to be able to motivate employees. Without a team of motivated workers, a manager is back to micromanaging — in other words, on the road to failure.
Lead by example
Employees want to see leaders walk the talk, and prove they believe in the mission as much as they say they do.
Empathy
The emotional component is important to leadership. See your employees as people, with real lives and families, not numbers or interchangeable figures.
Be a good listener
This skill dovetails with the trait of empathy. To learn from your employees you need to listen. That involves much more than “hearing” what they say. Listening is about hearing plus making a sincere effort to understand what they are telling you.
Vision
Every good leader has a roadmap, and a compass for the journey. A strategic vision is necessary not only for the direction of the company, but to provide direction for employees. With a vision, there can be goals; and with goals, everyone can focus on achieving them. A strategic vision is a tremendous motivator.
Respect
Respect is one of those qualities that increases immeasurably the more it is given. When you respect others, and they can feel it, you will in turn be afforded great respect. And you will have earned it.