Keeping up with uncertainty and a changing workforce requires a different kind of leader. While traditional business-centered skills like financial acumen and strategic thinking will always be important, there’s now a higher emphasis on human-centered leadership skills. Leaders must prioritize reskilling as part of their professional development through 2023 and beyond. Here are the skills that would benefit leaders and help them inspire and connect with their employees the most.

Communicate and Live Out Company Values

Employees often need a clear understanding of their company’s values to perform at their highest capacity. One study found that employees with a well-defined idea of their company’s values were 115% more engaged. Leaders must become better communicators, especially when it concerns the values they’ve outlined in their company’s mission statement. In the same vein, employees also expect leadership to live out the values they instill. This helps them define their roles in the workplace and adhere to the standards being set across the organization.

Reflective Leadership

Self-awareness goes a long way in the workplace. Leaders who practice self-reflection are more introspective, which spurs them to take action quicker, creates greater authenticity, encourages better communication, and inspires more vulnerability and accountability.

Growth Mindset

The most successful companies are the ones that quickly adapt to changing circumstances. It’s critical to adopt and cultivate a growth mindset within your organization. This puts your organization on top of a strong foundation while also encouraging employees to operate at their highest level. All of this is necessary to propel your company ahead of the competition, especially in the midst of transitions like those caused by COVID-19 and the rise of remote work.

Develop Future Leaders

Ask yourself these two questions: How influential of a leader are you? What is the quality of leadership like at your company? If you are a strong leader, you will create a strong leadership team. Every leader should prioritize their development, but it’s also essential to foster the growth and development of your leadership team as well. Support and guide the other leaders within your organization so they can extend that same oversight and knowledge to other team members.

Patience

Patience is not always heralded as a top leadership trait, but that’s going to change in the future. Navigating uncertainty requires patience, as solutions and decision-making take time and trial-and-error during moments of crisis. Additionally, patience is a trait that more employees seek in leadership. Patient leaders create a comfortable working environment where employees feel safe exploring new initiatives, taking bigger risks, and setting more significant goals for themselves.

 

The future of powerful leadership resides in one’s ability to reskill and prioritize these human-centered traits. Consider making any of these your next professional development goal.