Becoming a successful leader in 2023

Jan 20, 2023 9:43:34 AM

"Successful leadership does not require just one skill, but specific skills working together. Individuals must start investing their time to learn and develop solid leadership skills if they want to position themselves as effective leaders,” writes Finance Specialist and Leadership Professional Michelle Austin.

By Michelle Austin

It is hard to think about the future when the present is challenging, but staying ahead in times of significant change and uncertainty is more important than ever. The world around us is changing, and the changes are picking up pace. If you prepare now, you will become an effective leader who can adapt to change, resolve conflicts, and make good decisions for your company and team.

A Team Stage report shows that nearly 80% of companies report a leadership development gap. As a result, you need to develop certain leadership skills to succeed and achieve your business goals.

As a leader, you must be optimistic and have a positive attitude towards change. Access your inner determination and willingness to achieve because everything around us will likely remain uncertain and complex indefinitely.

Unfortunately, adversity is inevitable and can be destabilising for your staff. Therefore, a leader must lead by example and share their experiences while staying upbeat about the changes that are happening. This will encourage your team to know that anything is possible if they persist.

In this day and age, trust is crucial. You should remember that news is good news for your staff, even when it is bad. Therefore, you need to be truly authentic and transparent. As a result, you will foster a solid relationship with your team.

Moreover, as a leader, you must develop the ability to see through complexity and obstacles and learn how to turn crises and challenges into opportunities. Make sense of messy situations filled with contradictions, cut through superficial concerns, and communicate the issue's essence.

For instance, you must be able to create quickly, risk passionately, pivot quickly, and move on from failures, taking in the lessons of each experience to keep moving forward. This, in turn, will keep your team and organisation at the forefront, ready to offer solutions quickly.

Constructive engagement occurs best in times of uncertainty when leaders bring people together from diverse backgrounds, expertise, knowledge, and experience. Therefore, you must appreciate diversity and genuinely embrace its value at every level.

In a nutshell, we do not know what lies ahead. The future holds both challenges and opportunities. However, whatever form the future takes, successful leaders must learn how to act authentically and engagingly with courage and clear intent to build trust among their team. It is imperative that leaders take note of the signs and practise these skills to become successful.