Four elements make up Leadership Capacity, and they are core to a leader’s journey:

• Leadership Style
• Leadership Skills/Behaviors
• Leadership Character
• Leadership Ability/Business Acumen

Let’s take a look at each of these.

Leadership Style

This is your approach to situations as a leader and how you will manage teams. In defining your leadership style, you will want to consider how to respond, plan, and guide your team. Effective leaders are able to adapt their style based on the need at the time.

Here are five leadership styles. Do any of these sound familiar?

• Autocratic – you like to be in charge
• Consultative – you like to give advice or recommendations
• Affiliative – you like to form social and emotional bonds with your team
• Democratic – you consider the input of the team when making decisions
• Coaching – your goal is to help your team grow and improve performance

 

Leadership Skills/Behaviors

These are the specific and concrete ways you act and conduct yourself while leading your team and performing your role. Some examples are compassion, adaptability, listening skills, confidence, time management, and your ability to handle details well or provide motivation.

Here are common leadership skills that effective leaders possess:

• Communication
• Organizational Change – this involves strategy and planning execution
• Managing People
• Visionary – you can see what is possible, necessary, or groundbreaking.

Leadership Character

Character combines your values, traits, and virtues. This gets to the heart of who you are and fuels your authentic self. Clarity regarding these qualities will help you build confidence in your abilities to handle situations and earn respect from your team. Spending time in self-reflection about your values and belief systems will significantly enhance your leadership skills.

Character traits of great leaders include:

• Self-Knowing – this includes being vulnerable, authentic, and acting with integrity
• Inspiring, Persuasive, Influential
• Respectful
• Discernment/Decision Making
• Team Building/Empowering

Leadership Ability/Business Acumen

Business sense and savvy are crucial for making decisions that lead to effective outcomes. This encompasses industry knowledge accumulated over time and experience in similar situations. It includes understanding known and emerging processes and how to use that knowledge to lead and adapt successfully.

Areas that enhance business acumen are:

• Education
• Experience
• Certifications
• Continuing Education