Effective Vs. Ineffective Leadership Skills

While there's no doubt that leadership skills are valuable in any group environment, I think what mainly makes these skills effective or ineffective is the motivation and heart of the person using them. This is why it's important to develop the right attitude as a leader and not merely a set of techniques.

Having the Right Heart Behind Leadership Techniques

For example, if a manager tries to use encouragement only to manipulate the people they're attempting to lead (without anything genuine behind it), the group most likely will figure this out over time. This situation can backfire and result in resentment and low morale, the exact opposite of that the manager was wanting. The skill of being able to encourage people and bring out the best of them is extremely important, but it won't work long-term if you don't really believe what you're telling people.

Serving Your Team and Winning in the Process

I've also observed in several business situations that servant leaders (notice I didn't say "doormat" leaders) have developed a combination of skills that makes people want to work for them. These people find themselves promoted because of the respect they draw from the people around them, which often comes from the leader's own displayed respect and value of the people around him or her. Servant leaders have their ego in check and know the difference between confidence and arrogance. They take the time to listen and figure out what people want and connect it to the overall goal of what the department or business wants, making it a winning situation for all parties involved.

Communicating a Vision

Effective leaders also have vision and are able to communicate it to those around them. This is something most people have to develop over time, but it is a skill and something you can learn. People like to be a part of things bigger than themselves, and combined with a worthy purpose an effective leader can help move people forward toward a goal.

Never Stop Educating Yourself

As a leader, you always have to keep learning, often in the form of books, conferences, and meeting with successful people in your field of interest. When you accept the responsibility of being a leader in anything, there's always going to be something new on the horizon. It's important that you stay ahead of the people around you, not because of fear of competition but because it allows you to pull people forward instead of pushing them from behind. This makes things a whole lot easier all around.

I hope you've found these ideas helpful. Good luck and best wishes to you!