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5 Leadership Skills You Should Have in 2022 if You Want to Level up in Your Career

You don’t have to be the next Tim Cook or Jack Ma. You simply need to have great leadership skills and work towards becoming an expert in your field.

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You don’t have to be the next Tim Cook or Jack Ma. You simply need to have great leadership skills and work towards becoming an expert in your field.

Photo credit: master1305

What would you say if I told you that you needed to master five leadership skills in order to advance in your career?

Your answer would definitely be a yes because no one wants to be stuck in a rut in their career. Right? You want something more—a promotion, a new job or more roles and responsibilities that will enable you to fast-track your career. Moving forward in your profession is impossible if your emergency brake is engaged.

But, before we get into the specific skills you should possess, why are leadership skills so important? Why are they a must-have for you to level up in your career? 

 

Why are leadership skills important?

Well, at some point in the future, you will be called upon to lead. Whether it be a team, a volunteer group, or colleagues, you will need to step up and take the reins. To save the day, you must possess strong leadership skills that align people behind a common vision as well as the ability to communicate effectively, inspire, and motivate the team.

Okay. You might be wondering: “What if I won't get called to lead anyone? Do I still need leadership skills?”

Listen. You don’t have to be the next Tim Cook or Jack Ma. You simply need to be a great leader in your field of expertise. Make sure you constantly lead yourself towards a better life. When you have leadership skills, you are able to make important decisions and establish clear goals for both yourself and your company. What’s more, you can improve your leadership skills from success and failure through yours and others’ personal experiences. 

In light of what we've learned about the importance of leadership skills, let’s have a look at the five leadership skills you should possess to level up in your career.

Shall we? Let’s start off with…

1. Adaptability

The workplace is constantly evolving. As you progress through your role, you may find that you need to adjust to deadlines, workflow, or even how you approach your work. Depending on the situation, you may also need to learn new skills in order to complete a certain task. 

Research by McKinsey highlights that adaptability is the secret sauce to thriving amidst uncertainty.  

Companies value employees who are adept at adapting to workplace changes. Adaptable employees are more likely to succeed in new roles and can pick up new responsibilities fast.  Furthermore, it showcases your capacity to be resourceful, displays your determination, analytical and organizational skills. 

2. Problem-solving

Every organization and every job role has its own set of issues to deal with, and the importance of problem-solving skills cannot be overstated. That's why employers hire people with problem-solving skills. It serves as the most important catalyst for opportunities, growth, and development.

Bryan Adams once said, “Difficulties are opportunities to better things; they are stepping-stones to greater experience. When one door closes, another always opens; as a natural law it has to, to balance.”

You can use problem-solving skills to identify that there is an issue, figure out what's causing it, and how to fix it. Being a problem solver is more than just a skill; it's a mindset that inspires people to do their best and to be crystal clear in your direction. 

3. Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the process of evaluating and interpreting information in order to make a decision, come to a conclusion, or take a particular course of action. This skill helps in making decisions that necessitate a great deal of thought, such as whether to make a career move or not. 

Here's how to sharpen your critical thinking skills:

 

  • Expand your technical expertise so that you can quickly recognize challenges in your work environment.

 

  • Become a problem solver for your current job by actively volunteering to help out.

 

  • Boost your critical thinking and analytical skills by enrolling in additional online courses related to your profession.

 

  • Consult with people who are experts in the sector or industry you are interested in.

 

  • Analyze your information-gathering and -processing methods.

 

  • Consider other people's feelings before making a decision or acting in a certain way.

 

  • When in doubt, the best course of action is to seek clarification by asking questions.

Critical thinkers are in high demand because companies continually look for better and well-informed solutions. Therefore, they recruit and promote individuals who possess excellent critical thinking abilities.

4. Relationship building

Relationships are generally the foundation of a company's success. Nothing gets done if there aren't strong bonds among the various departments and with the clients. People who establish connections manage conflicting goals and assist parties in reaching an agreement.

Let us go through a few steps to develop positive working relationships at work.

 

  • Be honest in your relationships

 

  • Respect others

 

  • Learn to say no to people politely but firmly

 

  • Connect with people on a personal level

 

  • Show gratitude

 

  • Volunteer in the workplace

 

  • Maintain a positive vibe at all times

 

  • Always make good on your promises

 

  • Tackle conflicts head-on

 

  • Take responsibility for your actions

Understanding the value of creating relationships can help you advance in your career and make your job more enjoyable. Once you've established solid working relationships, keep doing the things that helped you build them so that you can maintain long-term relationships.

5. Creativity and innovation

Are you a creative thinker? Someone who has the ability to think outside the box? Do you use cutting-edge methods to help your company find amicable solutions? Creative thinkers come up with original solutions to problems they encounter. With these skills, they help companies see things from a fresh perspective and find unique solutions to problems.

Companies need to prioritize innovation if they are to remain relevant in today's competitive industry. And here is the thing. It can start with you. Innovation is a good approach for you to experiment and try new things, which can lead to new, better ideas and techniques.

A prime example is Ken Kutaragi, a junior staff member, who went to his bosses with the idea of creating a new console for Sony. At the time, Sony had a lack of interest in gaming, but Kutaragi refused to budge. He reached out to Sony's CEO, Norio Ohga who was aware of the value of the gaming industry. In 1994 Sony released PlayStation, and it has subsequently sold more than 500 million copies. Later, Kutaragi rose to the position of Chairman and CEO at Sony.

 

Conclusion

If you're looking for a new job or promotion, having a consistent track record of success in leadership roles will increase your chances of landing the position you desire. Whatever your position, developing your leadership skills is a worthwhile endeavor for everybody. You can put your leadership skills to the test by implementing the skills above. 

Written by

Bret Leon Asugo

Bret Leon Asugo is a creative content writer with industry expertise in ghostwriting, copywriting, guest posting, and corporate blogging. He works closely with B2B and B2C businesses providing content that is optimized for search engine rankings and gains social media traction. A writer by day and reader by night, he believes that everything has been said. But nobody has said it with your voice.


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