Do You Have the Right Leadership Skills?

Do you have the right leadership skills? It’s a more complicated question than you might think. It’s often assumed that some people are just born good leaders, that they have a natural inclination toward motivating and inspiring people. I think there can be some truth to that. But even natural-born leaders must spend time carefully and intentionally honing their competitive edge. And those who may not be born with immense leadership skills don’t have to panic; there are abundant opportunities to cultivate the skills necessary to take your place among the natural-born leaders.

In this post, I’d like to address a couple of things. First, I think it’s worth taking just a minute to underscore the importance of leadership skills. Second, there is certainly some merit to outlining the most critical, most effective leadership skills.

The Importance of Leadership Skills

First, why is it important to actively cultivate effective leadership skills? I can think of several reasons.

• Great leadership skills can give you a sense of initiative. You’ll have more confidence to identify problems or opportunities that arise, and…