SkillInside

The art of leadership can be defined in many ways. There are probably as many definitions of leadership as there are leaders, and each person brings their style of leadership, which is part of what makes it such a dynamic and interesting field. But at some point, most of them say, “I had no idea it would be this way.” Some even complain that they came unprepared for their roles because schools of management and leadership did not give them the skills they needed to succeed as leaders. So here are some lessons in Leadership 101: 1. Your character is more important than your competency.  More than anything else, you want to be known as a leader who is ethical, honest and trustworthy. It’s important for leaders to be competent and skilled, but that’s not the source of great leadership. It’s your character as a leader that matters most—not only to your team, organization, or venture but also to the world. Without trust, all the competency in the world is meaningless. 2....

In today’s society, we are given a single test, distributed to all, to measure our intelligence. The IQ test was been widely accepted as the test to determine a persons intelligence in comparison to those around him. Unfortunately, IQ tests don’t account for the nine different types of intelligences. That’s right. There’s nine. So if you didn’t do well on your IQ test, don’t worry, it might not have catered to your type of intelligence. If you think about it, it makes sense. Many teachers and general educators agree, not all children learn the same way. A concept that one child cannot seem to grasp might be picked up by another right away. But if you try teaching the slower child with a different approach of use a different example, chances are it will help them understand better.  1. Naturalist They often are considered more sensitive to the natural world. In the past they were the greatest survivalists, and they are naturally drawn to the outdoors. 2. M...

To achieve something significant in the world, to have a meaningful influence, you need to be a rebel. A rebel knows how to challenge the status quo and make an impact. It’s the executive assistant who, frustrated by her nonresponsive boss, coordinates a meeting with the company’s vice presidents to help her develop a strategy for bringing about change. It’s the manager of a team raising money for philanthropic causes who asks his team members to consider not only raising money but also giving and working toward the cause themselves. It’s the security guard who, when his ideas for improved internal security are ignored by management, sets aside some of his personal time each week to teach and guide employees on the importance of security. Every leader—no matter what position or title—has a rebel within. The question is how healthy or repressed your rebellious side is. Here are ways to recognize the rebel within: A rebel has strong convictions .  A leader who stan...

Mind the Gap What  type of leader  are you? Are you a leader who has had some success but now feel stuck? What’s your leadership gap? Understanding yourself is the beginning of influence. You must understand you before you can possibly understand others and how to influence them. If you’re a leader of leaders, you want to understand your team, how they interpret the world, their unique way of leading. A powerful team is made up of a diverse group of leadership styles. If you’re a leader who has reached a point where you’re confused why your success is stalled, this is for you. If you’re wondering what’s stopping your upward climb, this is for you. If you want to take your career up a notch, this is for you. “ “A leader must always set the standard of what they want to see in others.” -Lolly Daskal Tweet This Share on Facebook   Stand Out  Leadership Qualities You’ve worked with many leaders all over the globe. What are some of t...

One of the best things you can do for the bottom line is to foster an appreciative relationship with your employees. Here's how to make it happen: Most leaders agree that employee attitude is a key factor in an organization's success. Whether your employees are fulfilled and motivated or frustrated and disengaged is largely up to you. To keep employees fulfilled, productive, and engaged--and reduce the expense and disruption of turnover--make sure you're incorporating these nine principles into your leadership every day. 1. Presence .  Go beyond just being accessible. When you're with an employee, stay in the moment. Keep distractions at a minimum and quiet your mind to really listen to what is being said and how it's being conveyed. 2. Inclusion .  Give your employees room to take ownership of what they do and they'll bring commitment and excitement to their work. 3. Caring .  In word and deed, demonstrate that you are there for your team through...