The concept of leadership is one element that I have experienced first-hand as an adult. Currently, my spouse and I are business owners of a small auto parts store; we oversee 4 full-time employees and all aspects of the business management. Therefore, as a manager, my leadership skills had to develop. Some vital leadership skills as a business owner I had sought to demonstrate are problem-solving, decisiveness, team building, resilience, and dependability. I have to manage both the tasks at hand that have to be completed each day but also implement strategic thinking on the best ways on how I can grow my business so that the needs of my family and my employees are met. I had to overcome a lot in the process of learning, and ultimately, the self-awareness greatly contributed to my leadership capabilities.
I think one of the most important aspects of leadership is communication. It is always listed as a key characteristic, but communication goes beyond the ability to transfer information. Good communication involves active listening and understanding, open-mindedness, demonstrating empathy, the ability to share clear messages, and transforming complex ideas into ones that are easy to comprehend. At the same time, in the process of communication, one has to encourage, inspire, present oneself as an example and a strong leader. As noted by Myatt (2012), “It is the ability to develop a keen external awareness that separates the truly great communicators from those who muddle through their interactions with others.” It is easy to get caught up in oneself and internal ideas when communicating, but the best results in communication come when you gain awareness of the audience. In my business, I have worked on being a better communicator to my employees in order to become a great leader. I have established rapport and trust as a manager, and we have an effective system of communication that allows us to work together, delegate tasks, and ensure smooth daily operations. From personal experience, when communication is improved, especially from leadership to employees, many other problems become resolved, highlighting that issues arise due to poor communication from ineffective leaders.
References
Myatt, M. (2012). 10 communication secrets of great leaders.Forbes. Web.