In the business world, management skills are paramount, but there are other competencies required for long-term success. The leadership style you use will often be determined by the role and industry you’re in, but then again, the fundamentals are transferrable.
If you want to be an effective leader, you’ll need to have a certain skill set. In this blog, we look at the various skills you’ll need to work on as part of your leadership development, as well as how OCA online leadership training can help you get there faster.
Why Strong Leadership is Essential in Management
Believe it or not, in the working world, 1 in 5 companies in Australia have no kind of leadership training course in place for team members to advance themselves. It’s a surprising fact considering how important it is in management.
When working for any company, team leaders are required to rally everyone around a common cause. They’re there to make informed decisions, act as a facilitator, and for problem-solving. Without strong leadership skills, you won’t be able to empower others.
The great news is that you can work on your people management and engage in continuous improvement with a leadership course online. We’ll cover more about that at the end, but for now, let’s get into the skills that you’re going to need to work on.
Skill 1: Communication Skills
If you look at all the great leaders throughout history, there’s one skill that’s common to them all - effective communication. Whether communicating via email or face-to-face, a successful leader will always be clear and purposeful with their messages. Teamwork can’t happen if those in a leadership position can’t relay the details of the task at hand.
As learners discover when taking a leadership course online like our Leadership & Performance Mindset Course Bundle, ways to improve your communication include active listening, mirroring, great body language, and ensuring that you check and re-check any messages you send out.
Skill 2: Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is another of the behaviours you’ll need to be strong in, as it’s central to your ability to inspire and motivate others. However, there are two parts to it. Firstly, there’s your own personal development, meaning your self-awareness and your ability to control your own emotions.
Secondly, there’s your ability to understand how others are feeling and how to change management techniques to cater to it. That’s why the best leadership course online covers it thoroughly, as employee engagement relies on having a firm grip on this aspect.
Skill 3: Decision-Making
Your professional development as a leader also requires you to learn to make important decisions - it’s part of almost all management roles. It’s something new managers can struggle with, as it’s far trickier than it might seem.
As part of overall team management, decision-making is right up there in terms of importance, and there are a few things you can do to work on it, such as signing up for our Business, Retail & Entrepreneurship Courses. Other options include writing things down and weighing up the pros and cons of each decision or speaking to knowledgeable people in your team.
Skill 4: Time Management
A leadership course online will also allow you to work on your time management skills - another of the vital abilities that a good leader must have. You will be busy as a manager, and your project management prowess will depend on this skill.
You’ll be given deadlines to meet, and you may have to explain yourself if that deadline is missed. The news is that a number of apps can help you in this regard, as can a well-kept personal diary.
Skill 5: Conflict Resolution
Even high-performance teams can have issues with team members clashing, so it’s important to know how to diffuse matters and get everyone back on task. Leadership & management involves rising above issues like these and taking control.
Tips for improving in this area include using neutral language, never taking sides, and accepting that conflicts happen. You must also use inclusive leadership and never let your beliefs or opinions shape your decisions.
Become a Better Leader With an OCA Leadership Course Online
So, if you want to become a better leader or you’re looking to move up into management, an OCA leadership course online can help you get there. CPD-endorsed, video-based, and put together with the help of industry experts, our learning allows you to get the skills you need on your terms, as a smartphone is all required.
We offer a next-level learning experience - something you can see for yourself by watching our short yet highly-informative Student Study Demo. Alternatively, if you’d like to see our full course library that covers over 20 different industries, visit us at www.onlinecoursesaustralia.edu.au, where you’ll also find a choice of flexible payment options.
However, should you need any advice or assistance before you enrol, simply call our team on 1300 611 404 or email [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.
