“Under a big tree, there will be many small trees.” This Vietnamese proverb deeply reflects the role of a leader. Like a large tree, a leader shelters, supports, and helps team members grow. So, what skills make a person a talented leader, guiding a team to success?
1. Communication Skills: “Words Are Free, But Winning Hearts Is Hard”
“Kind words cost nothing, but are worth much” – This proverb is truly accurate when talking about the importance of communication skills, especially for a leader. An effective leader must be a person who knows how to listen, understand, convey messages clearly, motivate, and inspire their team.
1.1 Active Listening: “Listen to Understand, Not to Respond”
In work, leaders often face many different opinions and viewpoints. Instead of focusing solely on expressing their own views, a talented leader will take the time to listen to each member’s sharing. Active listening helps leaders grasp the thoughts and aspirations of each individual, thereby making appropriate decisions, creating consensus, and building team cohesion.
1.2 Effective Communication: “Sweet Words Are Like Honey”
Besides listening, leaders need to have effective communication skills to convey messages clearly, understandably, and persuasively. Kind words, coupled with honest actions, will build credibility and trust for the leader.
Note: Effective communication skills also include body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.
2. Time Management Skills: “Time Is Gold”
“Time is gold” – This proverb reminds us of the precious value of time. Especially in work, the ability to manage time effectively is essential for everyone, especially leaders.
2.1 Clear Planning: “A Solid Plan Ensures Swift Action”
A talented leader needs to know how to create detailed plans, allocating time reasonably for each task. By doing this, leaders can control work progress, avoid procrastination, increase productivity, and achieve optimal efficiency.
2.2 Prioritizing Tasks: “Prioritize, Focus, Don’t Get Sidetracked”
With a huge workload, leaders need to be able to classify and prioritize the most important tasks, focusing on completing them first. By doing this, leaders can solve problems effectively, avoiding wasting time on unnecessary tasks.
Note: Effective time management techniques such as Pomodoro, Eisenhower Matrix, GTD (Getting Things Done) can support leaders in managing time more effectively.
3. Problem-Solving Skills: “Problem-Solving Conquers Challenges”
“Victory always comes to those who know how to solve problems” – This saying affirms the important role of problem-solving skills in life, especially in work, and especially for leaders.
3.1 Problem Analysis: “Understand the Problem to Find the Solution”
To solve problems effectively, leaders need to be able to analyze problems clearly, identify root causes, and gather complete related information.
3.2 Solution Implementation: “Think It Through, Suggest, Take Action”
After analyzing the problem, leaders need to propose feasible solutions that are appropriate to the actual situation, practical, and effective.
3.3 Result Evaluation: “Assess, Adapt, Improve”
After implementing the solution, leaders need to check the results, evaluate the effectiveness of the solution, learn from experience, and adjust accordingly.
Note: Problem-solving skills are a continuous process, requiring leaders to be flexible, creative, and constantly learning and improving their experience.
4. Leadership Skills: “A Real Leader Chooses the Right Way”
“A true leader knows which path to choose” – This saying clearly expresses the important role of leadership skills in guiding a team to success.
4.1 Leading by Example: “Actions Speak Louder Than Words”
Leaders need to lead by example, demonstrating professionalism and responsibility in their work. The leader’s actions are a source of motivation, building trust and credibility for the team.
4.2 Respecting Individuals: “Each Person Has Unique Skills and Strengths”
Talented leaders know how to respect individuals, creating conditions for each team member to develop their abilities, show their talents, and contribute to common development.
4.3 Creating a Positive Work Environment: “Grow Together, Succeed Together”
Leaders need to create an open, dynamic work environment that encourages creativity, sharing, and mutual support. By doing this, leaders motivate and inspire effective teamwork.
Note: According to soft skills training expert Nguyen Van A, author of the book “Effective Leadership Skills,” a leader must “Know how to listen, know how to delegate, know how to motivate, know how to accompany the team.”
5. Self-Development Skills: “Never Stop Learning; Maintain a Learner’s Mindset”
“Learn, learn again, and keep learning” – This saying expresses the importance of continuous learning, especially for leaders.
5.1 Continuous Knowledge Update: “Knowledge Is Power”
Leaders need to keep up with social changes, grasp new knowledge, and update modern trends and technologies, helping them make wise decisions that are appropriate to reality.
5.2 Skill Enhancement: “Knowledge and Skills Go Hand in Hand”
Leaders not only need professional knowledge, but also need to cultivate soft skills, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills, leadership skills, etc.
5.3 Participating in Training Courses: “Learn from Experts”
Participating in professional training courses, seminars, and workshops helps leaders access in-depth knowledge, learn from experts’ experiences, and improve their personal capacity.
Note: “Learning has no limits, always keep a learning heart,” advice from life skills training expert Nguyen Thi B, author of the book “Learn to Succeed.”
6. Team Building Skills: “Overcome Challenges Together, Enjoy Success Together”
“Choose your companions and your environment wisely” – This proverb implies the importance of choosing teammates and building a team.
6.1 Talent Acquisition: “Find Talented Individuals to Support You”
Leaders need to have talent acquisition skills, seeking individuals with the ability and qualities suitable for the position and tasks in the team.
6.2 Talent Nurturing: “Foster Talent Development”
Leaders need to create conditions for employees to develop their abilities and skills, providing learning and promotion opportunities, helping employees stay with the team for the long term.
6.3 Task Delegation: “Leverage Individual Strengths”
Leaders need to know how to delegate tasks that are appropriate to each team member’s abilities and strengths, helping each person maximize their potential and create the highest work efficiency.
Note: “Team building is an art that demands insight, finesse, and patience,” shared by leadership skills training expert Nguyen Van C, author of the book “Secrets to Building a Golden Team.”
7. Persuasion Skills: “Effective Persuasion Leads to Great Accomplishments”
“Persuasive words achieve great things” – This proverb clearly expresses the important role of persuasion skills in making decisions, leading, and directing teams.
7.1 Clear and Logical Argumentation: “Truth Always Wins Out”
Leaders need to be able to present arguments clearly, logically, and persuasively, based on solid, transparent, and clear foundations, avoiding controversy, creating consensus and support from the team.
7.2 Effective Use of Body Language: “Expressiveness, Communication, Build Credibility”
In addition to using spoken language, leaders need to combine it with body language, facial expressions, eye contact, and tone of voice, creating attraction, increasing credibility, and persuading the team.
7.3 Building Good Relationships: “Empathy, Trust, Bonding”
To persuade the team, leaders need to build good relationships with each member, building trust and confidence, creating cohesion, and working together towards common goals.
Note: “Persuasion skills are key to leadership decisions and team success,” affirmed by communication skills training expert Nguyen Thi D, author of the book “The Art of Persuasion.”
8. Psychological Understanding Skills: “To Lead Effectively, Understand People”
“Understand people’s hearts to know how to lead” – This saying clearly expresses the important role of psychological understanding skills, helping leaders grasp the thoughts, aspirations, and motivations of their team, creating cohesion and consensus.
8.1 Grasping Moods: “Empathize, Listen, Comprehend”
Leaders need to be able to observe and sense the moods of each team member through their attitude, words, and actions, thereby making appropriate adjustments, creating comfort, and motivating them.
8.2 Behavior Analysis: “To Manage Effectively, Understand Behavior”
Leaders need to be able to analyze the behavior of each member, grasping their strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and needs, thereby developing appropriate management methods and maximizing their potential.
8.3 Creating Cohesion: “Common Goals, Collective Power”
Leaders need to create cohesion within the team, helping members share common goals and common strength, forming a unified bloc, and moving forward together.
Note: “Empathy is crucial for building strong teams and leading them to victory,” affirmed by psychological skills training expert Nguyen Van E, author of the book “The Art of Psychological Understanding.”
9. Risk Management Skills: “Prepare Ahead to Mitigate Risks”
“Life has risks and rewards” – This proverb expresses the truth that in life, there are always potential risks, especially in work.
9.1 Risk Analysis: “Anticipate, Evaluate, Prepare”
Leaders need to be able to analyze and assess potential risks in the operation process, determine the level of danger and probability of occurrence, thereby developing preventive measures to minimize damage.
9.2 Developing a Prevention Plan: “Prepare to Handle Any Situation”
Leaders need to develop a prevention plan, preparing for potential risks, preparing flexible and timely response solutions, ensuring that business operations run smoothly without interruption.
9.3 Plan Adjustment: “Adaptable, Flexible, Ready to Change”
During operation, leaders need to flexibly adjust plans, keep track of market developments, and promptly handle unexpected risks, ensuring that business operations are always efficient and safe.
Note: “Risk management is essential for smart decisions and sustainable growth,” advice from risk management skills training expert Nguyen Thi F, author of the book “Risk Management Skills in Business.”
10. Performance Evaluation Skills: “To Improve, Assess Accurately”
“Invest short-term for long-term gain, assess correctly, grow sustainably” – This proverb expresses the importance of performance evaluation, helping leaders identify strengths and weaknesses, thereby developing appropriate solutions and improving operational efficiency.
10.1 Building an Evaluation System: “Set Standards for Accurate Evaluation”
Leaders need to build a performance evaluation system, setting specific, clear, and measurable standards, ensuring objectivity and fairness in the evaluation process.
10.2 Result Analysis: “Know Strengths and Weaknesses to Boost Performance”
After evaluation, leaders need to analyze the results, identify strengths, weaknesses, successes, and limitations, thereby developing appropriate solutions and improving operational efficiency.
10.3 Plan Adjustment: “Adaptable, Flexible, Ready to Change”
Based on the evaluation results, leaders need to flexibly adjust plans and operating methods, ensuring that business operations are always effective, appropriate to reality, and bring optimal benefits.
Note: “Effective evaluation is essential for smart decisions and sustainable growth,” advice from performance evaluation skills training expert Nguyen Van G, author of the book “The Art of Effective Evaluation in Leadership.”
Conclusion
The above skills are important factors that help a person become a talented leader, guiding a team to success. In addition to cultivating skills, leaders need to continuously learn, focus on self-development, always maintain an optimistic and confident spirit, and work with the team towards common goals.
Do you want to discover more secrets to success from leaders? Visit the SOFT SKILLS website to learn about other soft skills, such as professional skills, communication skills, problem-solving skills, presentation skills, persuasion skills. Contact us via Phone Number: 0372666666, or visit the address: 55 To Tien Thanh, Hanoi. We have a 24/7 customer care team. Let’s create positive values for life together with SOFT SKILLS!