Early in 2022, we wrote about five leadership skills every small business owner should continuously hone. They included asking for advice, inspiring others, and understanding your team’s strengths and weaknesses. Those traits remain some of the best leadership skills to continue sharpening in 2023. In this post, we’re adding three skills to our previous list which we believe will help you recommit to your and your team’s professional development in the new year.
Best Leadership Skills in 2023
Leaders aren’t built overnight. Professional and personal development comes through experience, learning, and a willingness to change and grow. In other words, leadership isn’t a stagnant process but an agile one that focuses on personal evolution.
The most successful leaders have a combination of skills that blend emotional intelligence, tech-savviness, and interpersonal communication. Keep these three high-performance skills in mind as you plan for the year ahead.
- Take the Initiative and Be Willing to Learn
All effective leaders are skilled in driving business performance. However, getting there takes a willingness to acknowledge where you might have gaps in expertise. For some people, that means increasing their knowledge of finances, human resources, or coaching skills. Whatever your weak points, pick at least one per year to dive in deep on. Only then will you be able to lead by example.
- Think Critically and Have a Plan for Personal Growth and Development
Change is inevitable, and there will always be obstacles to overcome in modifying your beliefs and strategies. Fine-tuning your critical thinking skills helps you identify, analyze, and solve various challenges. Pinpoint your biggest gap in the previous year and dedicate yourself to improving on it. Tap into your curiosity and ability to be flexible to help shift your perspective and turn barriers into opportunities.
- Master the Three Key Components of Successful Leadership
Leading yourself, leading a team, and leading the business enhances workplace culture and creates a cohesive and collaborative work environment. To get there, ask yourself:
- Are there ways I could lead myself better?
- Would it be helpful to invest in personal or professional development?
- In what ways could I better lead my team better?
- Are there courses or classes I might take to increase my knowledge?
Leading a business means different things to different people. Yours might need to improve its sales and marketing, while others require better financing initiatives. Whatever you need to do to improve business outcomes, you’ll need to learn new skills to do it.
How Catalyst Helps You Hone Your Leadership Skills
You’ve probably heard the saying, “people don’t leave bad companies, they leave bad leaders.” Whether you’re developing your own leadership skills or developing your leaders in a succession plan, joining a mastermind group can help ensure people on your team don’t leave because of bad leadership.
At Catalyst, leadership development focuses on self, team, and company. Like-minded entrepreneurs come together to share ideas, problem-solve, and help each other grow as leaders. Much more than a support group, our members are committed to helping business owners create environments where their businesses prosper.
To learn more, contact Catalyst Mastermind Collaborative online today.
