Tech career coach, interview coach, and trusted confidant to Silicon Valley's top talent via CaffeinatedKyle.com.
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The qualities of a good leader look different now than in previous years. New return-to-office mandates, dissatisfaction with a lack of diversity and pushes for increased unionization are requiring managers to flex their leadership skills and show up for their teams in ways they may have never had to before.
What Makes A Good Leader?
As a tech career coach and trusted confidant to some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley, I’ve had the privilege of working with some renowned executives.
While every leader is unique, a good leader needs a vision, the ability to empower and actively listen to their team and a healthy dose of humility. They must also know how and when to flex their various strengths and possess the self-awareness needed to acknowledge their weaknesses.
Continue reading to learn more about these qualities, as well as how you can improve your own management skills.
1. A Clear Vision
For starters, good leaders are clear on their vision and maintain a strategy and accompanying goals to turn that vision into reality. Moreover, they can concisely and confidently communicate their plan. At the same time, the most effective leaders remain flexible along the journey, because they know the road to success is bumpy, and trust their vision.
Leadership Tip: If you struggle to set or communicate a shared vision, please don’t be afraid to ask for help, and know that you don’t need to start from scratch. I’ve found that the most successful leaders aren’t afraid to ask for help as they hone their vision and messaging. They draw inspiration from various sources, including the team around them.
2. The Ability To Empower A Team
Speaking of which, good leaders also know how to rally a team behind their vision and goals. Rather than micromanage or withdraw, they inspire and motivate a trusted team toward a shared vision. Moreover, good leaders are not afraid to delegate and empower other people, because they know they’re stronger with a team on their side.
Leadership Tip: Learning to empower your team and effectively delegate takes time, but it’s possible and gets easier with practice. If you struggle with empowering those who report to you, which I find is particularly common among new managers, consider setting a goal of delegating X items per week or month.
3. Active Listening Skills
While on the topic of empowerment, a good leader also knows how to actively listen. This includes being present with colleagues, listening to hear rather than to respond and paying attention to nonverbal communication and body language. Good leaders know when to stay quiet versus when to speak up and stand their ground, which is a fine line. I’ve found some of the most effective leaders I work with listen and analyze far more than they talk, and sometimes they only ask one or two high-impact questions in a meeting to move the conversation forward.
Leadership Tip: One way to improve your active listening skills as a leader is to ask more questions, rather than simply making statements or requests. Although this approach takes practice, it can lead to more fruitful conversations. Here’s what this looks like in action:
• Before: “I recommend that you...”
• After: “What are your options?”
4. A Healthy Dose Of Humility
No leader is without faults, and the best leaders are acutely aware of their weaknesses. While some leaders try to turn their weaknesses into strengths, I’ve found the most successful ones instead focus on owning and honing their natural talents. Rather than try to be an expert in everything, they become a specialist in a select few areas and then empower others to own their own fabulousness. Moreover, successful executives build a network of peers and mentors who have been in their shoes and can provide them with shortcuts, recognition and commiseration as they strive to become the best leaders possible.
Leadership Tip: You need to harness the power of feedback if you want to be a better leader. If you don’t regularly collect and iterate on feedback from those around you, consider starting now. Thankfully, this process can be as simple as asking how you’re doing in X or Y area during one-on-one meetings. You can also partner with an executive coach to reflect on the feedback and develop a growth plan.
Becoming A Better Leader
These qualities are just the tip of the iceberg, as every good leader possesses a unique set of strengths that make them who they are. If you want to become a better manager, which is a lifelong journey, start small and focus on one or two tips from this article, then see how you increase your impact as a leader. You’ve got this!
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