How to improve leadership skills in the workplace

To improve leadership skills in the workplace, figure out the strengths you have in leadership and the areas for improvement, select a leadership style, and set some goals. Here are some details on each of these steps and others you can take to improve your leadership skills in the workplace:

• Figure out the strengths you have in leadership and the areas for improvement

You likely have some leadership qualities that don't need much improvement. It is key to determine what these are because then it will help you to hone in on the areas where you do need to improve. If you need some objectivity, ask a close colleague or mentor.

• Select a leadership style

It can be helpful to select a style of leadership and study it to help you mold yourself into a better leader. You should research different leadership styles to find one that makes sense for you, as well as for your company and team. Here are a few different examples of leadership styles:

• Authoritative

• Coaching

• Democratic

• Laissez-faire

• Bureaucratic

• Transformational

It's important to consider how you plan to utilize your leadership skills when selecting a leadership style.

• Set some goals

Once you have chosen a leadership style you should then set some goals for the improvement of your leadership skills. You might consider making a list of short-term objectives and long-term goals. Short-term objectives can be useful to evaluate how you are improving. You can also seek the veteran advice of a mentor to assist you.

• Lead by example

You can not be hypocritical when you are a leader. Your staff or team is looking up to you and viewing your own performance as a cue to how they should act and perform while working. You set the tone. If you want your team or staff to be punctual, then you yourself must be punctual every day.

• You need expert communication skills

Having effective leadership skills means you should be able to communicate clearly and effectively. This is absolutely a fundamental aspect of being a good leader. You must have the ability to provide both positive and negative feedback in a constructive way to get the best results from your staff or team.

• Address conflicts promptly and fairly

Strong leadership skills include being well-versed in conflict resolution. The faster you can address the issues and come to a fair resolution, the better. Your staff or team members are much more likely to respect you if you do this. They also will feel safe in their working environment and will be more apt to perform their work thoroughly and effectively.

Indecision can cause your staff or team to lose faith in your leadership abilities. Also, once you make a decision, it is critical to stick to it, unless there are really bad consequences as a result. This helps foster confidence in your decision-making abilities and gains you respect from your team members.