Sunnie Giles, a catalyst for leaders, identifies ten leadership competencies worldwide. High ethical and moral standards top the list, with 67% of the 195 global leaders surveyed deeming it critical. Such standards foster trust, an essential ingredient for business operations. The second most important leadership quality, according to 59% of respondents, is providing goals and objectives with loose guidelines or directions. This approach empowers employees to explore innovative solutions.

Self-organisation, the third most important competency, allows employees to learn faster and perform better. It encourages creativity and adaptability, which are key in an unpredictable business environment. Being committed to ongoing training and development ranks fourth, with 58% of leaders considering it vital. It enables employees to master new skills, adapt to change, and increase productivity.

The fifth competency is open communication. It promotes a supportive, non-threatening environment that fosters innovation. The sixth is being supportive, which helps to reduce fear and increase a sense of belonging among employees. The seventh is flexibility to change opinions, which allows leaders to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape. The next is being committed to the success of stakeholders. This helps build a strong, committed team. The ninth is being resourceful, which fosters innovation, and the tenth is valuing diversity, which leads to a richer set of ideas and a more inclusive culture.

Go to source article: https://hbr.org/2016/03/the-most-important-leadership-competencies-according-to-leaders-around-the-world#comment-section