Core Leadership Skills You Need in Every Role
Leadership development is quickly emerging as the main focus for many executives and their employees. It makes sense-- attorneys coming straight out of law school weren't taught to supervise or lead others despite the inevitability of a supervisory or managerial role at some point in their career. But times are changing. There's a wave of leadership development, mentoring, and coaching for individuals at all levels of organizations in various industries. Law firms are no exception. The development of leadership skills can help junior attorneys and executives alike raise a culture that reflects high levels of emotional intelligence, increased productivity, and build trust. Not all leadership skills are equal though; some have a time and place, while others are more universal. These latter global traits make up the core leadership skills you need in every role.
Communication and Active Listening
Employees at all levels can benefit immensely from learning how to communicate, especially with virtual correspondences rapidly on the rise. Conflict resolution is an essential leadership trait. And with non-verbal cues more hidden online, active listening is key. Active listening involves attentiveness, asking clarifying questions, openness, paraphrasing what was said, honesty, and more self-awareness.
The Ability to Inspire
Inspiration is not always about specific outcomes. Administrative department workers can emotionally motivate their peers and their higher-ups if they believe in their capacity to make a difference. The magnetism of confidence is unignorable. Meanwhile, managerial personnel usually undertake the role of inspiring a shared vision. They use positive persuasion to build excitement around current potential and future possibilities.
Competence To Model the Way
A leader is someone who walks the talk. They challenge the status quo, are forward-thinking, and do what they say they will. For junior-level employees, these behaviors showcase innovation and reliability — which typically help with career advancement. For executives, it lays the precedent: We meet expectations at all levels, and no one is 'above the law.' The icing on the cake is when leaders celebrate accomplishments with rewards, boosting job recognition, job satisfaction, and reducing turnover rates.
Empathy And Inclusion
Our final core leadership trait is two-fold. Across the board, empathy helps to create a safe working environment and ensure feedback is communicated positively and well-received. Inclusion primarily focuses on the issues surrounding BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ community. To be more empathetic and inclusive, you can watch movies, go to plays, read books, and consume stories about these communities to better understand their backgrounds and cultural norms. Inclusion, coupled with diversity, is an unspoken form of empathy for minority groups in an organization.
Build Your Core Leadership Skills with Loeb
Consistency seems to be a word we can't get away from, and for good reason. When the above leadership skills are practiced consistently in all departments, you'll find employees who can quickly adapt to new situations, rise up to fulfill new positions, and decrease your firm's anxiety levels.
Loeb Leadership's coaching programs are designed to enhance the unique strengths and work on the flaws of each individual. Give us a call to see how we can create leaders in your firm.