How to Recognize Strong Management Skills

I’m passionate about effective leadership. In my early career, I missed countless opportunities because I didn't recognize what true leadership looked like. Avoid my mistakes. Here are 11 signs you're working with a great leader: 1. Integrity First They do what’s right, regardless of who’s watching. As Bill Campbell said, "It's not about what you say. It's about what you do." 2. Results-Oriented They focus on outcomes, not just hours worked. Results are what matter in business, not promises or clocked hours. 3. Humility They're open to admitting mistakes and eager to learn from anyone. Ego has no place in their world. 4. Emotional Intelligence They can read people and situations effectively, using empathy and understanding to navigate complex dynamics. 5. Resilient They see setbacks as steps forward. Their persistence is infectious, proving that while enthusiasm is common, endurance is rare. 6. Adaptable They adjust to changes effortlessly and even champion them. As Max McKeown says, “All success is successful adaptation.” 7. Innovative They cultivate a creative environment and encourage bold ideas. "Status quo" isn't part of their vocabulary. 8. Authentic They are genuine and avoid playing politics. What you see is what you get: real, raw, and relatable. 9. Transparent They share the truth openly, believing that clear communication is a form of respect. 10. Active Listeners They don't just hear; they listen to understand, making others feel genuinely heard. 11. Relationship-Oriented They invest in authentic connections, showing real interest in others' lives. Find this helpful? ♻️ Share it with your network and follow https://lnkd.in/eyKYdvm6 for more insights on effective leadership. #Leadership #Management #Integrity #EmotionalIntelligence #Innovation #ActiveListening

The majority of managers fail. Not because they lack talent. But because they lack a clear map. They're promoted and given: • No training • No playbook • No clarity Just responsibilities and deadlines. What makes it even harder? Each level of management isn't just different. It's a completely different game. And the costly mistakes evolve: Team Lead: • Avoiding difficult conversations • Holding onto individual work • Missing early warning signs • Failing to set boundaries • Being everyone's friend Manager: • Hiring too fast, firing too slow • Focusing on comfort over growth • Tolerating mediocre performance • Not developing successors • Playing politics poorly Manager of Managers: • Missing strategic opportunities • Building silos, not bridges • Fighting the wrong battles • Getting lost in the weeds • Hoarding information But beneath all three levels? Core skills that separate the best: Emotional Intelligence • Handling conflict professionally • Managing up effectively • Reading the room Quality Decisions • Gathering the right information • Moving at the right speed • Owning the outcome Clear Communication • Right audience • Right message • Right timing Strategic Thinking • Trading good for great • Seeing around corners • Connecting dots Team Development • Building bench strength • Spotting hidden talent • Creating growth paths Master these foundations. Use them to avoid level-specific missteps. What skill helped you level up? Share below ⬇️ ♻️ Share with a growing manager 🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more leadership frameworks

Job titles don‘t make you a leader. Here‘s what does: 1. Emotional Intelligence: Great leaders use their emotional intelligence to build strong connections, have tough conversations with empathy, and create an environment where people feel heard and valued. 2. Leading by Example: Leaders inspire the qualities they want to see in their team members, such as hard work, dedication, and integrity, by demonstrating these qualities. 3. Owning Mistakes: Great leaders take full accountability when things go wrong instead of deflecting blame. They own their mistakes, apologize, and focus on finding solutions. It encourages a culture of transparency and continuous improvement. 4. Providing Mentorship: They share their knowledge and experience to help others grow. They take the time to coach, provide feedback, and help others grow their skills and reach their potential. 5. Gratitude: It’s about showing thankfulness and valuing the work of your team. It helps build a positive work environment and strengthens relationships. 6. Integrity: Leaders with integrity tell the truth, honor their word, and uphold values over politics or personal gain. It involves doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. 7. Humility: They recognize that they don’t have all the answers and are open to learning from others. Recognizing that you don't have all the answers and being open to feedback and criticism is essential for growth and improvement as a leader. 8. Accountability: Accountability means taking ownership of your team's results, whether they are positive or negative. It fosters a culture of reliability and trust. 9. Empowering Others: Real leaders enable their people by delegating important work, setting clear responsibilities, and getting out of the way. 10. Empathy: The best leaders can put themselves in someone else's shoes. They see things from other perspectives and make efforts to understand the whole context of a situation before judging or reacting. ♻️ Too many people deal with bad managers, please help them by sharing this post!

Great leadership isn’t about having a title, it’s about how you show up, how you lead, and how people feel under your leadership. The best leaders? They don’t just manage people; they inspire, challenge, and elevate them. Here’s what they do differently that sets them apart. 1️⃣ They Lead with Clarity, Not Confusion 📌 Average leaders give vague directions and expect great results. 📌 Great leaders communicate clear expectations, priorities, and goals. ✅ Action: Before you assign a task, ask yourself: Would I be able to complete this if I were in their shoes? 2️⃣ They Give Credit, Take Responsibility 📌 Average leaders take the credit and blame their team when things go wrong. 📌 Great leaders publicly recognize others and take accountability when things don’t go as planned. ✅ Action: Regularly ask yourself: Who deserves recognition today? 3️⃣ They Listen More Than They Speak 📌 The best leaders don’t dominate conversations—they listen actively. 📌 They ask, “What do you think?” instead of always having the final word. ✅ Action: In your next meeting, listen twice as much as you talk. 4️⃣ They Coach Instead of Micromanage 📌 Average leaders hover and control every decision. 📌 Great leaders develop their people by guiding, not micromanaging. ✅ Action: When an employee asks for help, respond with: “What do you think we should do?” 5️⃣ They Set the Standard (And Follow It) 📌 The worst leaders expect things they don’t do themselves. 📌 The best leaders lead by example—whether it’s work ethic, integrity, or communication. ✅ Action: If you want your team to be accountable, be the most accountable person in the room. 6️⃣ They Create a Culture of Psychological Safety 📌 Employees don’t speak up when they fear judgment or retaliation. 📌 The best leaders create an environment where people feel safe to share ideas and challenges. ✅ Action: Instead of reacting negatively to mistakes, ask: “What did we learn from this?” 7️⃣ They Develop Future Leaders, Not Followers 📌 Poor leaders focus on maintaining control. 📌 Great leaders build others up so they can eventually take on leadership roles. ✅ Action: Identify someone on your team with leadership potential and mentor them. 8️⃣ They Balance High Standards with Empathy 📌 The best leaders push their teams while also understanding their challenges. 📌 They hold people accountable but also support them in tough times. ✅ Action: The next time an employee is struggling, ask: “How can I support you?” Be sure to check out the carousel for points 9 and 10! 🚀 The Bottom Line: Great leadership isn’t about power—it’s about building others up, setting the example, and making decisions that improve the entire team. Want to be a better leader? Start implementing these habits today. Subscribe to the HR Uncensored Newsletter (link in bio) for more actionable advice. ♻️ Repost to help someone in your network. ➕ Follow Ricardo Cuellar for more content like this.

As a leader, knowing if you're on the right track can be difficult. Take a minute and see if you align with these indicators of great leaders. Great leadership is challenging. If you do it well, you are like an Olympian—you make the most difficult moves in the world look easy. Beyond the metric of "results," how do you know if you are on the right track? Here are 13 indicators. Stack these, and I would guess you are in a pretty good place. 🚀 You clearly outline expectations & roles ↳ Your team knows precisely what is expected to win with you. There are clear goals, deadlines, and roles. 😌 You remain calm & measured under stress ↳ You set a positive and measured tone for your team (even through challenges). You model emotional intelligence. 👊 You adapt to individual needs ↳ You understand that each person is an individual and adjust accordingly. 🥇 You know their goals & aspirations ↳ You see your team as individuals, know their goals, and prioritize their growth and development. 📖 You are open to learning from others ↳ You understand your limitations and are open to learning from others in your environment. Saying "I don't know" is a strength. 🤔 You genuinely seek (& use) feedback ↳ You ask for input often and act on it (modeling humility and a commitment to personal growth). 🙂 You remain consistent in your behavior ↳ Your team knows what to expect from you—this reliability builds trust. 🤝 You ensure respectful debating ↳ You have established norms about how the team will disagree, debate, and "rumble," as Brene Brown would say. 🕧 You encourage accountability ↳ You have high expectations and build systems of accountability for you and the team. 😉 You build teams that support each other ↳ Team members feel free to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas without fear. 💡 You know that others have great ideas too ↳ You welcome innovation from any source and give credit where it’s due. 🔭 You spark true excitement about the vision ↳ You consistently communicate your shared purpose - inspiring people to go beyond the status quo. 😎 You inspire teams to go above & beyond ↳ Your leadership energizes them to exceed expectations and take initiative. Your time is 'committed' and not simply 'complying.' So what do you think? Are you on the right track? Celebrate those you have locked in. Choose one to practice - today, tomorrow, and the next day. In fact, practice every day. You have 40+ hours of practice time each week. Use it. And what would you add to the list? What have I missed? Throw it into the comments below! 👊 *** ♻️ Re-post or share so others can lead more effectively 🔔 Turn on notifications for my latest posts 🤓 Follow me at Scott J. Allen, Ph.D. for daily content on leadership 📌 Design by Bela Jevtovic