Leadership is not easy, and not everyone is suited for it. To perform the role well, one must have the right skills and traits. This article details 12 skills DynaFlex CEO Darren Buddemeyer believes are essential for today’s leaders.
1. Excellent Communication Skills
No manager can lead a team without good communication skills. Communication ensures that all team members are aware of the responsibilities of their roles and what it takes to meet them. Leaders who close off communication with their workers risk losing their loyalty.
2. Courage When Things Get Rough
There will be times when leaders face tough challenges. They’ll need the courage to overcome the challenges and thrive when making difficult decisions.
3. Sense of Humility
Humility is understanding you’re not the only person in the room. Team members surrounding a leader depend on them daily and when challenges arise. Leaders should take others’ feelings into account when acting and making decisions.
4. Self-Awareness
Someone who is self-aware recognizes their positive and negative characteristics. They know they’re not perfect, but they take steps to stop their weaknesses from overtaking their leadership position.
5. Passion for the Job
A leader who truly enjoys their work and the company they lead tends to excite others. When people see their job as something that adds value rather than provides a paycheck, they contribute more to the organization.
6. Authenticity
People usually sense when someone isn’t being truthful. A leader who operates from a place of honesty and speaks from the gut is more likely to inspire others.
7. Approachability
Employees want to feel like their views are welcome. Effective leaders make a point of asking for feedback and truly listening. Employees often bring relevant points and valuable ideas to the table.
8. Accountability
Leaders make mistakes. When that happens, it’s essential to be a model of accountability. Leaders should be able to admit when they’ve made a mistake and share how they plan to remedy it. The more a leader shows responsibility for their actions, the more likely their team will do the same.
9. Motivation
Everyone has days when they don’t feel like doing their work. If too many of those days pass, employees may lose motivation and morale will drop. Leaders who motivate others to work on essential tasks see greater team productivity.
10. Organization
It can be easy to lose track of appointments, meetings, and other responsibilities. After all, leaders usually have a lot going on. It’s helpful to invest in a calendar, planner, or assistant to keep track of tasks.
11. Positive Attitude
Even when things get rough, leaders need to try to keep a positive attitude. Becoming overly emotional or angry can wreak havoc on a team, who likely won’t know how to respond. Effective leaders make an effort to stay positive, even during complex challenges.
12. Refined Skills
Even leaders need to keep learning. Staying abreast of changes in their field and refining their skills will keep a leader relevant and performing at the forefront of their game.
Who Is Darren Buddemeyer?
Darren Buddemeyer is the CEO of DynaFlex – a leader in orthodontic products, orthodontic appliances, and dental sleep medicine device manufacturing. He started with DynaFlex doing odd jobs at 14, and it’s no understatement to say he took the company from humble beginnings to a powerhouse in the dental industry. Now, as the head of the company, Darren’s mission is to help doctors worldwide fulfill their mission: To enhance their patients’ smiles and sleep quality.
