Do Your Talents Have What It Takes to Be Future Leaders?

In Brief

• To be a good leader, one must possess basic leadership skills such as delegation and decision-making. However, having humility and empathy are also essential.
• Companies need to provide equal opportunities, implement a robust assessment, offer technical and soft skills training, and arrange material and mental support in order to prepare their talents to be capable and effective leaders.

What makes a good leader, one might wonder. If we’re talking in the business context, of course, business acumen is a must-have, other than that, basic leadership skills such as delegation, communication, and decision-making are important to have. But humility and empathy are just as essential for a good leader to possess as they foster a strong and intimate relationship between leaders and their team members. This connection promotes trust, open communication, and a sense of belonging within the team. When employees feel understood and valued, it contributes to longer work periods and higher levels of job satisfaction.

So, what can companies do to ensure they have capable and prepared future leaders? Here are some key elements companies can contribute to the development of effective leaders:

• Equal opportunity

Provide equal and diverse opportunities for individuals to develop leadership skills, such as offering leadership roles, cross-functional projects, and mentorship programs.

• Accurate assessment

Implement a robust assessment process to identify individuals with leadership potential by conducting performance evaluations, behavioral assessments, and peer and supervisor feedback.

• Technical and leadership skills development

Offer training programs and workshops that focus on developing both technical expertise and essential leadership skills (communication, decision-making, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking).

• Soft skills enhancement

Recognize the importance of soft skills—such as empathy, active listening, collaboration, and conflict resolution—and provide resources and opportunities for leaders to enhance these skills through workshops, coaching, and experiential learning.

• Material and mental support

Ensure leaders have the necessary resources and support to succeed in their roles by providing access to relevant tools, technology, and information, as well as offering mentorship, coaching, and counseling services to address any mental or emotional challenges they may face.

Preparing leaders on a long-term basis requires a comprehensive program that encompasses various aspects. Only by having the right approach that the purpose of the program can be achieved outstandingly.