If you are a manager, CEO or business owner, it’s likely that you lead a team or teams of employees looking to you for direction. The more leadership qualities you possess, the better leader you’ll be.

In this article, we discuss leadership in the workplace, the best qualities to have as a leader and how to improve your leadership qualities for a more successful work environment.

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What is leadership in the workplace?

Leadership in the workplace refers to the ability of an individual to manage and supervise a company and its fellow employees. It also refers to the ability to positively influence others to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. This will result in success for the company as a whole. When leaders effectively lead their company, the more likely they’ll impact the decisions, actions and overall attitude of others in a positive manner. When there is good morale and a positive working environment, the company is set up for success.

To be an effective leader, you should have a strong sense of who you are as a person and be confident in your abilities to lead not only the company at large but your employees individually, too.

Important qualities for leadership in the workplace

Displaying leadership involves having a variety of skills and qualities that help you perform your job with ease. The various skills a leader should possess include both hard and soft skills. Here are some important qualities all leaders should possess in the workplace:

Good communication: As with most roles, it’s important that leaders are good communicators. In many ways, they are the voice of the company, so being able to effectively communicate with their team and employees is vital in their position.
Empathy: Leaders need to display a great deal of empathy. This involves understanding others’ wants, needs and concerns. Not only will this create a harmonious working relationship, but displaying empathy will earn trust and respect from your colleagues and employees.
Positivity: Positivity can go a long way in boosting morale and promoting a healthy work environment in general. Leaders should have a good attitude and stay positive throughout their everyday tasks. When employees see them being positive, they’re more likely to be positive themselves. Leaders should aim to inspire others through their positive outlook.
Confidence: As a leader, it’s important to have belief in your abilities. When you display a reasonable amount of confidence, you can help motivate others as well as give them hope for the company’s future.
Vision: In order to make a company profitable, it’s important for leaders to have a good vision. This means they have the motivation and ability to think beyond the present and plan for the future strategically.
Responsibility: Since leaders have a variety of tasks they’ll need to complete, it’s important that they’re responsible in the workplace. This means prioritizing their duties and staying focused on what needs to get done for the company.
Transparency: Leaders should also be transparent about the company’s state, its goals and more. This means being open, honest and effectively communicating with others in the organization. The more transparent you are as a leader, the more your employees will trust you going forward.
Motivating: As a leader, you’ll be responsible for not only leading your team but empowering them to perform to the best of their ability.
Delegation: It’s important that you’re able to effectively delegate and manage your team of employees.
Humility: Leaders should be modest about their motivations and actions. It’s important for employees to see that their superiors can make mistakes, too.

How to improve your leadership skills in the workplace

To become a better leader, you should sharpen your skills regularly. In some instances, this can help you advance in your career, as well. Here are some ways to improve your leadership skills in the workplace:

Understand your strengths.
Be a visionary.
Practice active listening.
Stay focused.
Get feedback.
Help others.

1. Understand your strengths

It’s important to differentiate your strengths from your weaknesses. As you determine what your strengths are, you’ll be able to play them up to your advantage. For example, if you know you’re a good negotiator, you’ll be able to focus on tasks where these skills will be most used.

2. Be a visionary

Having some semblance of a vision as to the future of your company is a must for all leaders. As you look to improve your skills, it’s important to always be looking at both your short- and long-term goals for the company. Having a clear vision will not only motivate you but your employees, too. Having a set goal will also help you stay focused on the matters at hand and will give you the strength to see your vision through to fruition.

3. Practice active listening

Consider practicing your active listening skills as you look to improve as a leader. This involves being more attentive to what your colleagues and employees have to say. Focus on their every word, listen to their concerns and respond appropriately. This not only shows that you are engaged but also that you care.

4. Stay focused

The majority of leaders face several responsibilities. Often, these duties are highly important and need to be done within a certain timeframe. In order to be more efficient, practice staying focused. This will help you get things done more efficiently and will help your company’s success overall.

5. Get feedback

One great way to improve your leadership skills is to get feedback from your employees. Consider asking them how you can be a better leader for them or what you can do differently in their eyes. This will not only show them that you care what they think, but it’ll give you a good insight as to how you’re perceived and what actions you should take to become a better leader for your company.

6. Help others

Lastly, helping others in your organisation will help improve your leadership skills, too. This is because through assisting others with their needs, you’ll be able to empathise with them, see their struggles or successes and build a relationship and trust with them, as well. Being available to help others when they need it is a great way to improve your communication skills and general leadership skills.

*This article first appeared on Indeed