What Are the Key Skills Leaders Need Today? Loeb Leadership at the NCWBA
On Friday, August 5, 2022, Loeb Leadership Founder and CEO Natalie Loeb and Senior Consultant Tracey West attended the annual Women’s Bar Leadership Summit in Chicago. The theme for the conference was “Reconnecting for Excellence,” with programming designed to motivate women in leadership positions and connect them to the tools necessary for success.
The coaches were invited to speak alongside Paulette Brown and Eileen Letts on the topic of connecting organizational leaders, how to be an inclusive leader, and what skills are needed to bring a firm’s mission and goals to fruition. Below are some key takeaways from the panel!
Key Leadership Traits & Skills
The panel was moderated by Tracey West, who began the session with introductions and then asked each panelist what they believe are the key traits and skills an inclusive leader must have. The speakers noted that research consistently shows the most admired traits of leaders are honesty, competency, and the ability to inspire – all of which are traits that establish credibility.
Natalie added that a great leader also demonstrates forward thinking and empathy, and noted the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership found in The Leadership Challenge by Barry Posner and Jim Kouzes.
Leadership Skills in Practice
Next, the panelists were asked to reflect on a time when they were tested as leaders and how they leveraged or developed a key leadership skill through the challenge. Natalie recalled a time when she was working with a client who was launching a new program and wanted to pursue a certain tone in their branding that she did not believe would reflect the culture the client was working toward. Natalie leveraged honesty by communicating this clearly to the client in a way that would build trust and a sense of teamwork instead of opposition. She was able to demonstrate competence by offering alternative options and inspired her client to redirect their efforts towards focusing on building the workplace culture they desired and helped them realize a shared vision for the future (forward thinking).
Natalie notes this experience put her engagement with the client on the line, but she stayed true to Loeb Leadership’s values in staying firm in her convictions. Her commitment to being an inspiring leader paid off, as the client took her guidance and chose a different route, and the programming is now a major success.
The Impact of the Pandemic
Many wonder how the pandemic has altered what skills make a successful leader – our panelists noted a few key changes.
Leaders must be prepared to exercise empathy. The pandemic has been difficult for many reasons; people have lost loved ones, jobs, a sense of security and stability, and are under the constant stress of facing their own mortality and what can feel like a sense of impending doom. The World Health Organization recently published research indicating the prevalence of mental health conditions has increased a whopping 25% since the start of the pandemic worldwide. Leaders must be prepared to witness or discuss topics surrounding mental health more often than before. And while it is not a leader’s job to “fix” these issues, demonstrating empathy and support in a way that builds trust between you and your team is increasingly important. Of course, learning how to confidently show vulnerability takes practice, just like any skill. Exercising humility and being willing to share your own journey and lessons you’ve learned along the way builds trust and credibility.
In the remote and hybrid workplace, communication skills are key. As more meetings and correspondence happen virtually, it can be hard to pick up on non-verbal language, which accounts for more than half of how we communicate with one another. It can be a challenge to read non-verbal cues in person, let alone over a computer screen -- but this is also a skill leaders must intentionally exercise. Our panelists stressed the need for strong active listening skills!
Becoming an Inclusive Leader
Lastly, the panelists discussed what current and aspiring leaders can do to develop the skills necessary to be inclusive leaders. There are many educational resources – our coaches often recommend taking the Intercultural Development Inventory to assess themselves, and attending events to learn more about different people and cultures – consume stories, movies, plays, books, etc., created or produced by BIPOC, the LGBTQ+ community, or anyone who is different than you. Attend Safe Space practice groups (facilitated by Loeb Leadership) and pursue relationships with individuals who do not come from a similar background as you, whether that is the coach you hire, new friends you make, or who you work with. When we build a relationship with people, we create a safe space to explore and learn together.
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