Will Corrente is the well known connection optimizer and Founding Director of Corrente Consulting International Inc. (CCI). -- LEARN MORE --

What are the three most important leadership skills that leaders should develop right now?

• The three most important leadership skills for today’s leaders to develop are Flexibility, Humility, and Focus.
  • Leaders, especially leaders of entrepreneurial ventures, need to be flexible to thrive in today’s economy. The changes in the economy, employee demographics, and customer expectations will require the leader to periodically shift and adjust the path and direction of the business. Leaders who thrive on rigidity, who pick a direction and drag their people along for the ride, would find it equally difficult to course-correct their business strategy fast enough either to respond to unexpected threats or to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. Flexible leaders, however engage the team when business conditions change and shift direction as needed; the flexible leader’s proactive actions gets their team to step forward on their own without the leader appearing or being inconsistent.
  • Some of the best leaders I know are often the most humble. Developing humility in your leadership style lets your people know you are human and may not have all the answers all the time. The best leaders know that in today's world, technology, access to information, and best practice techniques are always rapidly changing and it is impossible for them to have all the information all the time. If the path you selected needs to be changed because of new information, it is important that your team know that the buck stops with you not only for the good decisions, but also for the not so good ones. A leader who practices humility effectively you can use it as an excellent opportunity to connect with your people on a human level, communicating that you are all in this together.
  • Leaders who are thriving today understand that focus is critical for business success, especially during these challenging economic times. Now is the time for you to focus your energy and resources on the critical elements that make your business successful. Focused leaders also understand that with leadership comes responsibility, so be prepared to learn a lot and think deeply to make informed decisions. Let your people know people that you the leader are always at the helm of your organization and give direction with confidence and conviction.

• Just because you are in charge does not mean you are infallible. The best leaders know that they occasionally have to put their ego aside and openly accept responsibility for mistakes. By being proactive in addressing and fixing an error is one of the best ways in which you can earn respect instead of command it.

• In many of my decisions, I talk my way through the different scenarios and outcomes. Because of this I have learned it is important for me to do all of my thinking and dialoguing about possible options and outcomes with my partners or with people who I am not in charge of leading. When I am addressing subordinates it is important that I am clear, concise and offer specific final direction. If I need more information to make a decision or gather additional facts, I need to do my internal processing and reasoning away from them and then come back with my final decision.