What Makes a Good Leader? 10 Essential Qualities to Develop

The most in-demand leadership skills today are those that enable leaders to navigate the complexities of a global, technologically advanced, and rapidly changing business environment.

Based on Marshall Goldsmith’s research and experience, here are some of the key leadership skills that are highly valued:

1. Global Thinking:

Leaders must have a broad perspective and understand the interconnectedness of markets and economies around the world. They should be able to think beyond their local market and consider global implications in their decision-making.

2. Appreciation for Cultural Diversity:

With teams becoming more diverse and operations spanning across different cultures, leaders need to appreciate and leverage the strengths that come from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

3. Technological Savvy:

As technology continues to evolve, leaders must stay informed and be able to integrate new technological advancements into their strategies to maintain a competitive edge.

4. Building Partnerships and Alliances:

The ability to form and maintain strategic partnerships and alliances is crucial for success in today’s business landscape. Leaders must be adept at networking and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders.

5. Facilitation Skills:

Leaders today are less about being the top expert and more about facilitating the expertise of others. They need to be able to guide, support, and empower their teams to achieve collective goals.

6. Adaptability and Agility:

The pace of change requires leaders to be flexible and able to pivot quickly in response to new challenges and opportunities.

7. Emotional Intelligence:

Understanding and managing one’s own emotions, as well as recognizing and influencing the emotions of others, is vital for effective leadership.

8. Strategic Thinking:

Leaders must be able to anticipate future trends and challenges and develop long-term strategies that align with the organization’s vision and goals.

9. Communication Skills:

Clear and effective communication is essential for leaders to articulate their vision, align their team, and influence stakeholders.

10. Ethical Leadership and Integrity:

Maintaining high ethical standards and integrity is critical for building trust and credibility with employees, customers, and other stakeholders.

Enhance Your Leadership with Stakeholder Centered Coaching®

The skills described above are not exhaustive but represent some of the most critical competencies that leaders need to develop to be successful in the modern business environment.

Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching will help you acquire in-demand skills by engaging the people who work with you and are affected by your behavior. Our proprietary methodology, Stakeholder Centered Coaching®, guarantees that the development of skills is not done in isolation but in the context of real-world interactions and perceptions.

Start today and learn the foundations with a free course, then join the certified community and gain access to more courses, materials, exclusive events  and programs designed to elevate your leadership skills continuously.