Poor leadership affects everyone. Not only does it harm managers' relationships with their employees, but it also influences the success of the management team and the organization at large.
There's no such thing as a perfect skill set, but there are a few key skills managers must possess in order to lead their teams to victory. Here are seven skills most managers lack, according to a Forbes article written by Liz Ryan, founder and CEO of Human Workplace.
1. Look at other perspectives. "Strong managers can see the world through someone else's eyes," Ms. Ryan writes. One of the most useful skills a manager can possess is being able to examine a situation from a different perspective, be it an employee, boss or customer.
2. Let the chips fall where they may. Instead of panicking when something goes wrong, a good leader is able to remain calm and let the situation unfold. Ms. Ryan calls this skill "allowing." Naturally, leaders can't and shouldn't ignore problems. But a strong leader will refrain from blaming others when negative situations inevitably arise.
3. Be curious. No one likes seeing their ideas shot down or noticing their attempts at creativity being ignored. Rather than immediately bringing up why a proposal might not work, a strong leader will be curious and ask questions about it.
4. Think critically. "Critical thinking means thinking beyond what we've been taught," Ms. Ryan writes. "It means looking at situations from all angles." So many managers today get caught in tunnel vision and are only able to see a set of circumstances one way. Use critical thinking skills to completely examine an issue and hunt for a new solution.
5. Fully examine problems. Ms. Ryan calls this "connecting the dots." Just as chess players plot out their moves three or four steps ahead of the game, so too should managers plan out their moves in advance. Don't look at each new scenario as a single problem to solve — fully examine each aspect of the situation and try to connect the dots.
6. Be humble. Some managers have a tendency to consistently reinforce their authority. Again and again, they remind their employees who the boss really is. But as Ms. Ryan points out, the best managers hire those who are smarter than them. Being humble and refraining from being a know-it-all can help leverage success in the workplace.
7. Coach. Rather than doling out orders every day, leaders should strive to coach their employees. Unlike commanding, coaching emphasizes listening skills. To become a better coach, leaders can ask their employees questions such as "What do you need from me?" and "What are your goals for this job?"
More articles on leadership and management:
8 hospital, health system chief transformation officers to know
CEOs of private equity-owned systems face intense scrutiny for higher pay
Where the Walgreens-Theranos partnership went wrong