3 Leadership Skills That Are More Important Than I Thought

I am a mom of three and am pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Project Management at Herzing University. As I progress through my program, I think a lot about what it takes to be a strong leader.

Through my studies and my work experiences, I have learned that there are many skills that are needed to be an effective manager. If you are given the privilege and responsibility of leading an organization or a team, you should not take it lightly. Work hard to develop the skills and qualities that will help you become the best leader you can be.

Here are three leadership skills that are more important than I previously thought:

1. Relationship building

Great leaders are able to build strong relationships with both their colleagues and clients. By delivering on your promises and goals, you can cultivate successful relationships with your customers, which helps ensure long-lasting business partnerships. By building strong relationships with your team members, you can help increase productivity and engagement and inspire your employees to go the extra mile to meet goals and objectives.

2. Perceptive of team needs

It is a leader’s responsibility to make sure that his or her staff is adequately trained and that employees have the skills they need to be successful in their jobs. Good leaders also present employees with opportunities to develop critical skill sets, so that they may continue to grow and advance.

Communicate regularly with your team members about goals and expectations, and give them the opportunity to discuss any challenges they may be facing that will affect a project or task. Keep the lines of communication open and work to find solutions to any problems that arise.

3. Confidence

Confidence is key! Confidence inspires trust and helps you represent yourself and your company in a positive way. Show your team members that you are also confident in them and their abilities. Your trust will help them become more comfortable making decisions and will inspire them to keep doing great work.

Whether I decide to start my own firm or join the leadership of an established firm, I’ll use these skills every day. Relationship building is a must in project management, as you work with other leaders to move a project forward. Being able to gauge the needs of my project team is also vital to the team being able to close a project on time, and having confidence in myself and my decisions will help me lead my team to success.