jerrytz
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 10, 2012
- 5,975
- 4,266
The One Skill You Need To Become A Great Leader
How can you stand out as a great leader? Many authors and subject-matter experts discuss the various qualities essential to good leadership. But it seems difficult for many people to retain and practice all of those skills. Books, seminars, training can help, but if learning and applying one new skill is difficult, how can you be expected to apply six or seven or even eight or more skills?
There is one skill that trumps all others when it comes to great leadership; and you dont need to spend years learning it. Plus you can practice it daily in your everyday life. Once you begin using this one skill you will notice a difference in your ability to lead others.
That skill is objectivity. Lets begin with a working definition of objectivity from Wikipedia: Generally, objectivity means the state or quality of being true even outside of a subject's individual biases, interpretations, feelings, and imaginings existing without biases caused by, feelings, ideas, etc .
Your ability to see things objectively, instantly changes your perspective and allows you to make better decisions, remain calm, and capture the essence of any problem facing you. Try it. Take a viewpoint from an opposing side (the counterpoint) and articulate an argument in its defense. As you do this you will notice how many other skills naturally (or unnaturally for some) come into play.
Objectivity requires you to:
1.Empathize, putting yourself in someone elses shoes
2.Stop and think before reacting (absolutely essential to effective leadership)
3.Consider your own biases requiring mindfulness and self-awareness.
4.Ask questions to gain a better understanding of the full picture
5.Seek facts rather than opinions
6.Be open-minded to new ways of thinking
7.Be humble when your view may not be correct
There are many more, but these alone are some of the most important qualities of great leaders. Rather than learning how to use and apply each of these qualities individually, practicing objectivity will enhance them naturally.
How can you stand out as a great leader? Many authors and subject-matter experts discuss the various qualities essential to good leadership. But it seems difficult for many people to retain and practice all of those skills. Books, seminars, training can help, but if learning and applying one new skill is difficult, how can you be expected to apply six or seven or even eight or more skills?
There is one skill that trumps all others when it comes to great leadership; and you dont need to spend years learning it. Plus you can practice it daily in your everyday life. Once you begin using this one skill you will notice a difference in your ability to lead others.
That skill is objectivity. Lets begin with a working definition of objectivity from Wikipedia: Generally, objectivity means the state or quality of being true even outside of a subject's individual biases, interpretations, feelings, and imaginings existing without biases caused by, feelings, ideas, etc .
Your ability to see things objectively, instantly changes your perspective and allows you to make better decisions, remain calm, and capture the essence of any problem facing you. Try it. Take a viewpoint from an opposing side (the counterpoint) and articulate an argument in its defense. As you do this you will notice how many other skills naturally (or unnaturally for some) come into play.
Objectivity requires you to:
1.Empathize, putting yourself in someone elses shoes
2.Stop and think before reacting (absolutely essential to effective leadership)
3.Consider your own biases requiring mindfulness and self-awareness.
4.Ask questions to gain a better understanding of the full picture
5.Seek facts rather than opinions
6.Be open-minded to new ways of thinking
7.Be humble when your view may not be correct
There are many more, but these alone are some of the most important qualities of great leaders. Rather than learning how to use and apply each of these qualities individually, practicing objectivity will enhance them naturally.
