Between the shift to remote work and technological advances, the last few years have seen companies facing new management challenges which call for a change to a more agile and adaptable leadership style.
For decades, business leadership has been based on direct visual contact but now, the need to manage virtual teams is more necessary than ever. In this article, we will explore the key leadership skills for present and future leaders, and the best practices to become a successful leader.
Managing teams in the digital era
For many employees, 100% virtual work environments lack social and physical interaction which has created the need for a more human approach to leadership and a people-centered management style focused on employee health and well-being.
With this in mind, organizations need leaders who can balance deep technical and digital knowledge with more human skills such as empathy, communication, and team management.
Challenges current leaders face
Managing people in virtual environments is proving to be one of the biggest challenges for today’s leaders, with wellbeing and both personal and professional development being of particular concern. Modern leaders are also aware of the importance of promoting a culture of continous learning and developing skills and knowledge relating to digitalization in a workplace that is constantly evolving.
Key leadership skills for present and future leaders
To face these challenges, modern leaders must be capable of both managing teams and providing professionals with new knowledge, overseeing their performance, and encouraging motivation remotely.
They must also possess a number of key skills and attitudes:
1. Listening and emotional intelligence
These behaviors have always been important for leadership, but they are now absolutely necessary to create and maintain a sense of community within a team without compromising professional commitment.
2. Fostering diversity, inclusion, and equality
In times of crisis and uncertainty, a safe working environment where ideas are respected is essential. Therefore, leaders must possess the ability to develop inclusive leadership, to attract and retain new talent, and stay competitive.
3. Promoting well-being at work
Remote working has blurred the boundaries between work and rest time. Unmanaged, this bad habit can lead to a decrease in team productivity. Therefore, to learn how to be a good leader, it is essential to be flexible and empathetic, recognizing what each individual needs to succeed.
4. Clear communication
This skill is essential for honest and trustworthy communication within your team. It is also crucial for instilling the company’s vision, objectives, and purpose in your company.
5. Resilience
Transformation is a constant challenge that leaders must deal with today. Therefore, resilience, or the ability to overcome adverse situations, is one of the most necessary soft skills to convey confidence and security.
6. Being solution-oriented, collaborative, and innovative
Leaders must be prepared to handle any setback and collaborate with remote, diverse, multidisciplinary, and increasingly global teams.
How to be a good leader: Best practices
We’ve already seen the value of soft skills for developing leaders who are prepared for the modern working world. However, implementing a strategy to promote these skills can be a challenge.
Here are some best practices you can put into place in your company if you want your team members to learn how to be a good leader:
- Lead by example when it comes to transmitting corporate culture and values. By replicating the behaviors, you want your team to develop, they will become a natural part of their day-to-day working environment.
- Implement new employee health measures to prioritize people in an increasingly digital world. Developing programs for self-motivation, digital disconnection, or mindfulness can help many leaders gain the necessary knowledge to develop a comprehensive understanding of their team members and their immediate needs.
- Foster a diverse workforce through leadership that values and leverages the differences among employees to gain a competitive advantage.
- Invest in internal talent development. Continuous training is key to developing leaders capable of successfully guiding their teams in assuming new tasks, roles, or responsibilities.
Innovative companies are embracing new, more open, and intelligent online learning models that allow for autonomous and personalized training based on the needs of each employee profile.
Discover isEazy Skills and empower your team’s talent with leadership courses, personal productivity training, and much more!
