Top 10 leadership skills for HR specialists
Leadership skills are vital for the success of any organisation. They enable managers to inspire and motivate their team members, foster teamwork, and help employees achieve their full potential. They also build trust and confidence and create a culture of excellence. Effective leadership is essential to create a positive work environment, retain talented employees, increase productivity and profitability, and achieve the organisation’s goals.
Simply’s research shows that in today's business landscape, HR professionals have become key decision-makers when it comes to critical business functions. It is essential for organisations to give priority to employee development, well-being, and overall experience, as neglecting these aspects can lead to decreased productivity, subpar performance, and increased rates of employee turnover.
We analysed the top 10 skills that are in demand right now for HR professionals and found that as the business environment become more uncertain and complex, more organisations need to adopt a long-term mindset towards skills development, rather than simply reacting to short-term labour market changes and skill shortages.
So, what does this mean for you and your organisation?
Well knowing top leadership skills can make your business surpass your competitors in numerous ways. Strong leadership skills can enhance productivity, inspire employees, and encourage collaboration.
Effective leaders understand how to motivate and communicate with their employees, and when skilled in problem-solving and decision-making, helps organisations overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. Additionally, great leaders possess excellent organisational skills and time management abilities, ensuring that their teams work efficiently and effectively.
By demonstrating these qualities and closing your skills gaps, a business can improve its reputation, attract talented employees, and achieve long-term success.
Talking of skills gaps, the most urgent skill gap that needs to be addressed in 2023 is that of first-time leaders, who may lack the essential leadership and strategic competencies needed for success in their new roles. To tackle this issue, HR needs to prioritise the development of these leaders and provide them with opportunities to acquire the critical skills required for effective team leadership.
Some of these include:
Planning: Leaders are responsible for setting the vision and direction for the organisation. They develop strategies, set goals, and inspire their team to work towards achieving them. This ensures that everyone in the organisation is working towards a common purpose and understands how their individual efforts contribute to the bigger picture.
Self-Motivation: Effective leaders are skilled at motivating and inspiring their team, and themselves. They create a positive work culture, provide recognition, and feedback, and offer opportunities for personal and professional growth. This results in a motivated and engaged team that is committed to achieving the organisation’s goals.
Decision Making: Leaders are responsible for making important decisions that affect the organisation. They need to be able to gather information, analyse options, and make sound decisions that are in the best interest of the organisation. Strong leaders can make tough decisions quickly and effectively.
Accountability: Leaders must hold responsibility and obligation of an individual or organisation to provide accurate and transparent information, follow through on commitments, and take ownership of their actions and decisions. It involves being answerable and liable for one's performance, outcomes, and results.
Coaching: Strong leaders focus on helping individuals, teams, and organisations to develop their skills, performance, and potential. It involves providing guidance, support, and feedback to help employees identify their strengths and weaknesses, set goals, and develop strategies to achieve those goals. Coaching can focus on a wide range of areas, including leadership, communication, teamwork, productivity, and career development.
Overall, leadership skills are essential for organisations to be successful. They provide direction, motivation, decision-making ability, effective communication, and adaptability, which are all necessary for an organisation to thrive in today's rapidly changing business environment.
We know that the question around skills is hard to answer, and even harder to close. Some organisations may face external pressures, such as market competition or regulatory requirements, that make it challenging to prioritise skills development. In such cases, organisations may be focused on short-term goals rather than long-term investments in their employees.
However, failing to close skills gaps can have significant consequences for said organisations, including decreased productivity, reduced competitiveness, and difficulty in retaining top talent. As such, it is crucial for organisations to prioritise employee training and leadership development to ensure their long-term success.
With Simply's user-friendly data, insight, and tools to identify the skills you need and the skills you have, we can help close your skill gaps and begin to future-proof your workforce.