Skill 9: Leadership and social influence

This article series explores each of the Top 10 Skills of 2023 identified by the World Economic Forum, offering a roadmap to make them accessible to every individual. In this article, we will delve into the ninth skill, “Leadership and social influence”. For information on the eighth skill, please refer to Empathy and Active Listening.

Emeritus defines leadership as:

leadership is about taking risks and challenging the status quo. Leaders motivate others to achieve something new and better.

Wikepedia:

Social influence comprises the ways in which individuals adjust their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment. It takes many forms and can be seen in conformity, socialization, peer pressure, obedience, leadership, persuasion, sales, and marketing.

We should truly focus on being compassionate, encouraging, committed, influential, and much more.

When it comes to guiding others, both leadership and social influence aim to achieve this goal, requiring the intensification of many “innate” qualities for success. While some individuals may appear to have a natural predisposition for leadership, the essential qualities for success are present in every human being and can be cultivated and nurtured over time.

Leadership transcends innate abilities; it involves the capacity to listen, ask questions, demonstrate compassion, encourage individuals to reach higher levels, and exhibit a steadfast commitment to a vision, influencing through both words and actions. These serve as models frequently used to guide others on how to behave for success.

It is crucial to be expressive and honest in all communications. This implies that individuals should trust those under their responsibility so that they know their leader believes in them, fostering the complete revelation of their potential. Consequently, the most effective leaders often display humility and grace, seeking to make those they influence feel respected.

It’s important to note that leadership and influence go beyond mere management. While qualities such as responsibility, strategy, and analysis may seem vital, in reality, it is more crucial to be fair and calm to inspire confidence and competence in those collaborating with the leader.

Professor Vicente Falconi addresses key points about leadership, emphasizing that leading involves consistently achieving goals, with the team executing tasks correctly. Goals, therefore, have the power to drive annual improvements, and their construction should be done with value, a clear objective, and a defined deadline.

Thus, the skill of leadership actually manifests as a set of behaviours that can be developed and refined over time.

How to encourage employees to be compassionate, encouraging, committed, influential, and much more?

The noble mission of developing human beings is a serious matter as it directly influences each individual’s professional trajectory. It’s worth emphasizing that leadership is distinct from management; at some point, every member of an organization is called upon to lead others in completing tasks, even when the title of leader or manager is not formally bestowed upon them.

The development of leadership qualities in others begins with the promotion of effective teamwork skills. Both scenarios involve the ability to establish good interpersonal relationships and ensure productive outcomes from conversations. Therefore, a simple initial step to encourage leadership qualities is to prompt employees to express themselves in team meetings, sharing their ideas and involving others. Additionally, learning facilitators may need to establish mentoring programs and lead conversations focused on what it takes to be a leader, going beyond mere administrative tasks.

Of all the qualities mentioned, the most significant has yet to be highlighted. Those aspiring to develop leadership in others must allow themselves to be vulnerable. Elevating and shaping others into individuals capable of leading may seem like an existential threat to some leaders. The genuine desire to see others succeed, more than anything else, requires considerable doses of altruism and can only be fostered through the ingrained culture and mindset of the entire organization.

Conclusion

• Leadership is about being the person capable of leading, not just performing typical leader tasks;
• The development of leadership qualities in the workforce begins the moment an employee is integrated into the team;
• The true quality of a leader lies in the ability to allow oneself to be vulnerable, demonstrating a willingness to develop and elevate someone who may eventually become more influential than they are.

Written by: Ederson Corbari