Forget following the leader; these days, it’s all about creating your own path to success.
Maybe you’re looking to prove you deserve a promotion during your next performance appraisal, or you’re a manager looking to brush up on your talent management skills. Whatever the case, there’s much to learn about leadership.
Some of the best leadership skills to have are:
Climbing the corporate ladder requires more than career experience—now more than ever, companies are looking to promote people with a mix of soft and hard skills. They focus more on your social ability and how you relate and communicate with others. Consider enrolling in programs from the best leadership training companies to sharpen these skills.
Deciding what kind of leader you want is just one part of the puzzle. Whether you’re a Ginni Rometty (CEO of IBM) or more of a Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google), there seem to be a handful of traits that all effective leaders share.
We asked managers from every industry what leadership skills they seek when offering promotions. Check out some of their answers!
Leaders with curiosity actively seek new knowledge and insights to improve their decisions. To build this skill, ask questions during team discussions and explore different perspectives, like reading industry-related articles.
“As a CMO and agency head, one soft skill I seek is curiosity. I find that curious people are more open-minded. They have a strong desire to acquire knowledge and information and a genuine appetite for learning. They tend to embrace change (or are, at least, less resistant to change) and are well-suited to working in dynamic industries and environments. And because curious people are motivated to understand, they're often creative (out-of-the-box) thinkers. All of these things make curiosity a quality which is both valuable and attractive in future leaders.”
– Jacqueline Burns, chief marketing officer at Market Expertise
Service-oriented leaders prioritize the needs of their team and organization, fostering a supportive environment. Practice this by regularly checking in with team members to understand their challenges and offer assistance.
“I believe that the most important leadership trait in promoting someone is their ability to serve others. Such a leadership trait can influence organizational well-being on many levels, including creating more leaders, a more knowledgeable and able workforce, increased job satisfaction, and many more tangible and intangible benefits. It is worth noting that servant leadership should NOT come at the cost of expertise and/or technical knowledge necessary to accomplish the tasks at hand.”
– Kamyar Shah, founder of Kamyar Shah Consulting
Empowering leaders delegate responsibilities and encourage autonomy, enabling team members to thrive. Build this skill by trusting your team with key tasks and providing them with the resources and authority to make decisions.
“A good leader needs to do more than look out for themselves. They must also act as talent developers. Management is a privilege, and one must actively earn that honor by helping employees achieve their best. That comes from focused feedback and consistent coaching.”
– Tim Toterhi, founder of Plotline Leadership
Tip: Learn more about how managers can promote professional development.
Integrity involves being honest and ethical in all actions, which builds trust within the team. Demonstrate integrity by consistently aligning your actions with your values, even when faced with difficult decisions.
“The number one attribute I look for when promoting an employee to a leadership role is integrity. I entrust my leaders to care for my employees, customers, and the business. They must have a strong moral compass to help my organization realize its full potential. It is a core value of my organization, and I need my leaders to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.”
– Kelsie Beckfield, SHRM-SCP, HR manager at Great Northern
Humble leaders acknowledge their limitations and are open to feedback, promoting a collaborative atmosphere. Cultivate humility by actively seeking input from others and admitting when you don’t have all the answers.
“Leaders can't have a big ego. They have to be selfless and not be concerned about how much praise or recognition they receive from the outside world. Effective leaders empower employees, while bad leaders often make employees feel insignificant. Employees under strong leaders typically have more creative freedom and room for innovation and experimentation. On the opposite end of the spectrum, employees serving under bad leaders typically feel like they must follow a rigid structure to get things done.”
– Matthew Ross, COO and co-founder of The Slumber Yard
Proactive leaders anticipate challenges and act before issues arise, ensuring smoother operations. Strengthen this skill by setting aside time for planning and identifying potential obstacles in advance.
“I look for people who are leading up. Leading up means advising your boss and guiding them toward the best possible solution to a problem. For example, an individual contributor will know more about the day-to-day impact of management's decisions on employee morale. The individual contributor can lead up by describing to their supervisor what impact new policies or systems will have on the team at the ground level. Additionally, I want to see employees willing to take on responsibilities beyond their job description. Are they willing to cut across job roles or departments to get things done? I would never want to promote someone who utters the phrase that is not my job.”
– Dave Lane, CEO of Inventiv Tools
Resilient leaders bounce back from setbacks and maintain a positive outlook, inspiring their teams. Develop resilience by reflecting on past challenges, learning from them, and practicing stress-reduction techniques.
“The most important leadership skill to look for is someone who runs towards the company fires, not away from them. Every business has its challenges. Many people avoid tackling difficult issues or staying within the confines of their defined role. However, the people who notice the opportunities for growth and then try to do something about them are the ones to look for. They're the people who will inspire and lead people.”
– Josh Braaten, CEO and co-founder of Brandish Insights
Leaders who take initiative act decisively and inspire their teams to follow suit. Build this skill by volunteering for new projects and encouraging team members to propose innovative solutions.
“I look for people who I like to refer to as clock changers. These are people who take the initiative and change what’s broken, figuratively or literally. For example, when I was the CMO at Kodak, I had a bunch of executives in a meeting room, and everyone noticed that the clock had stopped working. Everyone commented about it, but no one did anything to solve the problem. It wasn’t until one of the female employees took her shoes off and climbed on top of a chair, fixed the clock, and moved on. In my mind, that was a clear sign of someone who was a natural leader and didn’t need constant supervision to get things done and move the needle forward.”
– Jeffrey Hayzlett, CEO and chairman at The C-Suite Network
Charismatic leaders engage and motivate their teams through their personality and enthusiasm. Enhance your charisma by practicing active listening, being approachable, and sharing your vision passionately.
“When it comes to hiring, we always say at RotaCloud, ‘Hire people, not CVs.’ After all, if someone has the aptitude, interest, and enthusiasm, then they can always pick up new skills. Personalities, however, are a lot more difficult to change. We apply the same principles when it comes to promoting staff who’ve been with us for a while, focusing not just on what they’ve achieved with us so far but on the kind of person they are. We consider things like the level of enthusiasm they’ve shown, not just for their current role but for the business as a whole. Do their personal values chime with our brand’s? Do they see their job as a job or a part of a whole?”
– Joel Beverley, cofounder of RotaCloud
Accountable leaders take responsibility for their actions and decisions, fostering a culture of trust. Strengthen this skill by owning up to mistakes, learning from them, and encouraging your team to do the same.
“Anyone in a leadership position needs the characteristic of taking ownership, not only for their work but also for their mistakes. A person who is able to lead successfully is one who is able to confidently admit where they went wrong in order to seek a different avenue for success. Trustworthiness is built within the work environment when a leader eases into admitting fault, ultimately creating a learning experience. Qualify and promote someone who has the ability to propel value in learning further from their mistakes by taking ownership.”
– Chachi Flores, senior manager of e-commerce at Peacock Alley
Effective communication involves clearly conveying ideas and fostering open dialogue. Improve your communication skills by practicing active listening, providing constructive feedback, and adapting your style to your audience.
“Strong communication skills are what I look for when promoting internal talent. Knowing what to do to drive a business forward is one thing, but sharing that vision and getting those plans in motion is another matter entirely. Nothing sucks the motivation out of a team quite like a leader that can't or won't, talk to their people. If you can't stand up and address your staff or talk to them frankly one-on-one, then you can't hope to inspire the kind of confidence necessary to get the job done and blaze a trail to success. It takes a confident communicator to make sure plans and tasks are explained, delegated, and carried out effectively to get everyone on the same page and working towards the same goal as a unit.”
– Paden Simmons, senior vice president at Nigel Frank International
Tip: Discover the top internal communications software and organize how employees share information within the organization.
Self-motivated leaders pursue their goals with enthusiasm and determination. Cultivate this trait by setting personal objectives and rewarding yourself for achieving milestones along the way.
“Being a self-starter demonstrates that an employee is confident enough to take on challenges and figure out something new independently. Taking initiative on projects demonstrates that an individual isn’t afraid to fail, make mistakes, or take risks. When an employee takes initiative and can act as a leader without any prompting, it is a good sign they will make strides and be successful.”
– Matt Edstrom, chief marketing officer of GoodLife Home Loans
Passionate leaders inspire others through their enthusiasm for their work. Build passion by aligning your responsibilities with your interests and encouraging your team to pursue projects that excite them.
“I often look for employees who show passion and that they truly care about achieving great results. It shows me they care about the results of their team as a whole. I also look for someone who makes others better and knows it's about the team, not just themselves. They want to share their skills with others to make everyone better. It's also incredibly important to be a good listener and know that you will not know everything. It shows you are willing to sit back and listen to others no matter what level they are at in their career.”
– Michael Stahl, chief marketing officer at HealthMarkets
Empathetic leaders understand and share the feelings of their team members, fostering strong relationships. Develop empathy by actively listening, asking open-ended questions, and being attentive to non-verbal cues.
“Any willing individual can acquire all skills and strategies, but caring can’t be trained. To my knowledge, there is not a training program in the world that will make a person give a damn about something (job, cause, people, etc.) when they simply don’t. When you create a space where employees crave to be, where they feel appreciated and validated, where they are the single most important entity, even before customers, it becomes a space in which authentic and enjoyable customer experiences happen with every transaction.”
– Jon Pe'a, director of technical operations at Logmein
Confident leaders inspire trust and encourage others to take risks. Build confidence by preparing thoroughly for meetings, celebrating successes, and seeking feedback to reinforce your strengths.
“I look for leaders who are in tune with who they are and are cognizant of their strengths and weaknesses. They feel confident in their ability to connect with people and feel comfortable following their gut when issues arise.”
– Ashley Fry, VP of development and quality at IQMS
Tip: Learn how to network confidently (even when you don't feel it!) with these networking tips.
Barack Obama is widely regarded as one of the most effective leaders of our time. A significant aspect of his leadership is his exceptional communication skills.
Renowned for his eloquence, Obama has been frequently praised as one of modern history's greatest orators and writers. His ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible manner resonates with a diverse audience, making him an influential national and global figure.
One of the hallmarks of Obama's speaking style is his low-pitched, slow-paced vocal delivery, characterized by impactful pauses that enhance his message. This deliberate pacing allows listeners to absorb his words, creating a sense of anticipation and engagement. His assertive speaking commands attention, making even the most challenging topics feel relatable and understandable.
Obama excels at nonverbal communication, particularly through his use of eye contact. He maintains a focused connection with his audience, unlike many speakers who may unconsciously scan the room or make fleeting glances.
He directs his gaze toward various sections of the audience and lingers, fostering a sense of inclusivity and connection. This ability demonstrates confidence and helps build trust and rapport with his listeners, making them feel valued and engaged in the conversation.
The most important leadership advice you can take away is to be yourself. It’s impossible to be every type of leader, so use the tips from this article to find your perfect fit. Leading with authenticity will help take you far in your career.
To better understand how to apply leadership skills effectively, discover which leadership style resonates most with you!
This article was originally published in 2019. It has been updated with new information.
Lauren Pope is a former content marketer at G2. You can find her work featured on CNBC, Yahoo! Finance, the G2 Learning Hub, and other sites. In her free time, Lauren enjoys watching true crime shows and singing karaoke. (she/her/hers)
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