Leaders are naturally competent; if not, they won’t become a leader anyway. So it’s okay to demand competence and efficiency from your boss. But if you want to become a leader, knowing the top qualities needed in order to be a competent one is important.
Developing leadership skills is essential in managing your own team. An effective leader not only give instructions to his members but also has an open mind for suggestions. And for one to become a great leader, one must be a great follower first. Following his own instructions will not only motivate others to do the same, but will also help him recognize what needs improvement and what are the challenges that can be faced as they follow each rule.
Why Competence Is An Obligation for Leadership
Competent leadership may not be the standard today, but it would help eradicate incompetence among leaders. Mediocrity has no room in today’s demanding society. Therefore, improving the norm can bridge performance gaps and create more competitive leaders.
Leaders are usually chosen due to their seniority in the company or achievements and performance efficiency. Having no experience in leadership can be a challenge if you want to take on a higher role in your organization. Here are the top qualities of a competent leader:
- Have great communication skills. An effective leader should be an excellent communicator. Whether it’s verbal or written, clear communication is important in all aspects of life. It allows greater teamwork and productivity in various organizations. Being a great communicator doesn’t just stop in being able to express themselves with authority. A great leader must also have the ability to comprehend other people’s ideas and suggestions. Whenever a decision is made, he sees to it that majority of the team have agreed and makes sure that no one is negatively affected by that decision.
- Respectful and Fair. Great leaders respect their constituents and are fair in all decisions made. They also encourage and empower employees to become their best selves and participate in planning activities. They do not show favoritism and gives credit where the credit is due. They announce achievements publicly and correct errors privately.
- Knows how to delegate tasks. Being a leader doesn’t mean you need to do all the tasks. An effective leader knows how to delegate and trust team members when it comes to accomplishing job roles. They ensure to give a task on each member according to their abilities. They explain instructions clearly so that the assigned member knows exactly what needs to be done. This helps improve productivity and functions in the workplace. A great leader also shows his team that he has tasks to finish as well and not just sit there and relax while everyone is doing their job.
- Organized and confident. With excellent organizational skills, leaders are able to plan effectively while providing cost-efficient strategies in achieving company’s objectives. Also, leaders must be confident in their team’s abilities and knowledge. They have a clear vision on what must be achieved and motivates everyone to work together as a team. However, they ensure that they do not compromise and push others to go beyond their skills level.
- Values honesty and integrity. Trustworthiness lies in the honesty of a person. Leaders who value integrity can develop a better work environment and engage team members in practicing honesty. This is a core influential factor that establishes a good foundation in any type of organization. They know how to build trust on every member’s capability and teaches them to trust each other as a team. They never use their power to get ahead on others instead they use it to build them up.
- Keeps on learning. A great leader is committed in lifelong learning and is never complacent with his current knowledge. Developing your leadership skills can also be acquired by continuing your education. Aside from adding it to your credentials, applying for an MBA degree in Canada can help you hone your soft skills and management skills to be a more competent leader.
Competence is achieved because of an individual’s ability to accomplish things needed in the day-to-day functions of a company. It is not merely about being proud and overly confident about yourself, but being able to showcase your abilities while helping others to do the same. It’s something that makes up the personality of a leader. In other words, competence is like a state of being that every person must give importance to.
Leadership and competence must be present in order to combat mediocrity in many aspects of organizations and companies. Competent leaders can make better communities and institutions.
So, do you have the qualities of a competent leader?
