Management involves setting up processes for people to follow and guiding them through it, such that performance can be measured and improved.

Leadership, on the other hand, is about influence, empowerment and igniting a spark for innovation and achievement, enabling people to move from performance to excellence.

Management and Leadership are not mutually exclusive, but rather are complementary with one enhancing the results from the other.

If a manager does not have leadership skills, then developing it is a must for accomplishing the right and most efficient and effective results.

What are the leadership skills that are required for success?

For starters, the Manager must be a continuous learner. That means personal development is a way of life, not an optional activity or one that is undertaken only when required by the CEO and HR department.

In his book “Developing the Leader Within” John Maxwell, the world leadership expert, and my mentor, gives the following as essential ways of developing leadership skills

1. Influence: Leadership is influence no more, no less.
2. Priorities: Knowing and learning to prioritise what matters most is key.
3. Integrity: Being true to one’s self and to others, and acting integrously.
4. Creating Positive Change: Leaders are agents, architects, and catalyst for change requiring courage to initiate and see change through.
5. Problem Solving: People look up to leaders to come up with the answers or to find them.
6. Attitude: Attitude determines Altitude. A man cannot act or become what he does not think he is, so developing the right attitude and mindset is key.
7. People: A leader is one who is willing to develop his most appreciable asset, and that is people. The ability and ease of leadership are dependent upon the quality of the followers. The leader must see developing people as essential.
8. Vision: Without vision, there can be no strategy for the future. A leader needs to see more, see ahead and see before.

Sounds like being ‘psychic’, but not necessarily, it just means staying on top of the game, making it important to analyse and know future possibilities, whilst equipping followers to take advantage of them.

9. Self Discipline: The essence of self-development is self-mastery. If you know yourself, you can nurture and grow yourself to the point where you exercise right judgement, experience paradigm shifts, and create stability.

10. Staff Development: This links up nicely with being in Management positions. It’s not about you, it’s about those you manage or if you are of the leadership mindset, it is those you serve.

To get the best out of anything or anyone, you have to be willing to invest in them. It is the proverbial bottom line, that makes a difference to the actual bottom line.

So if you are in management or seeking to be in management, make sure to focus on developing yourself and laser-focused on building your leadership skills.

At ATI (Aspire-Transform-Inspire) Coaching, Consulting and Training, we offer a Free Corporate Discovery Package that accords businesses and organisations to explore and discover bespoke solutions to develop and add value to their Managers and Leaders.

Get in touch on 07488231754 or connect@patienceogunbona.com to discuss your needs.

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