Effective Leadership Skills Interview Preparation Guide

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Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.

Here are a few of the qualities and traits of great leaders that you can learn and practice:
☛ Self-assessment
☛ Sharp perception
☛ Responsive to the group's needs
☛ Knowing the organization

Knowing your areas of weakness does not make you weak; on the contrary, it allows you to delegate to others who have those abilities, in order to achieve the common goal. Rather than clinging to the false belief that they can do it all, great leaders hire people who complement, rather than supplement, their skills. Working on your areas of weaknesses will improve your leadership ability and recognizing them makes you more human.

Being perceptive can also help a leader be more effective in knowing the needs of the team. Some teams value trust over creativity; others prefer a clear communicator to a great organizer. Building a strong team is easier when you know the values and goals of each individual, as well as what they need from you as their leader.

Effective leaders know the organization's overall purpose and goals, and the agreed-upon strategies to achieve these goals; they also know how their team fits into the big picture, and the part they play in helping the organization grow and thrive. Full knowledge of your organization inside and out is vital to becoming an effective leader.

If you really want to know what people think, just ask them. You may receive feedback that you are not listening or showing appreciation as well as you could be. If you have established an environment of honest and open communication, you should be able to ask about your good qualities and the areas you need to improve on. Your staff will appreciate your effort.

Inspiring others is the mark of an effective leader. Motivation is best done by example and guidance, not by issuing commands.

Good communication skills are required at every level of business, but leaders must possess outstanding communication skills. Luckily, this is a skill that can be learned.

You can learn how to assess risk and run scenarios that will help you make better decisions. Great leaders take the right risks at the right time.

Putting together strong teams that work well is another trait of great leaders. The opposite is also true. If a team is weak and dysfunctional, it is generally a failure in leadership.