Developing strong management and leadership skills
Learn people management skills and explore different leadership styles to attract, engage, and retain top talent.
Whether you’re a hiring manager or a CEO, strong management and leadership skills can help propel your organization forward.
Across industries, executive leadership training programs can be an excellent tool for cultivating strong people management skills and teaching team members how to be good managers and leaders.
By sharpening their leadership and management skills, leaders can inspire others to achieve team goals — and accelerate organizational growth.
Effective people management skills
People management skills help managers create a positive work environment, foster collaboration, and improve team communication. They also help managers develop and retain top talent, identify skill gaps, and provide team members with appropriate training and support. People management skills include hard and soft skills — and managers should continually strive to develop and improve both skill sets.
Hard skills refer to the technical knowledge and experience required to perform a particular job.
Some valuable hard skills related to people management skills include:
The ability to onboard and train employees
Leaders may be tasked with developing effective onboarding programs, creating training materials, and providing new hires with ongoing support.
Process optimization skills
Leaders may be tasked with identifying and improving inefficient processes and systems to boost productivity, reduce costs, and enhance overall performance.
Strong budget management
Leaders may be responsible for managing financial resources, forecasting expenses, and analyzing financial data.
Technical expertise
Leaders will want to stay up to date with industry-specific technology, software, and trends to ensure their teams have the tools and knowledge needed to perform their jobs effectively.
Strong project management
Leaders may find themselves planning, executing, and monitoring projects to ensure adherence to time, quality, and budget standards.
Role-specific experience
Leaders can benefit from having prior work or educational experience that informs their current on-the-job approach.
Soft skills are the nontechnical skills that help you succeed on the job.
Here are some important soft skills related to people management:
Communication
Managers are responsible for communicating effectively and clearly with team members and stakeholders.
Planning and organizing
Managers allocate resources to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
Decision-making
Managers gather and analyze information to make informed decisions that support their organizational goals.
Time management
Managers set clear priorities to manage their workloads and meet deadlines
Problem-solving
Managers use critical thinking and creativity to develop effective solutions.
How to be a good manager and leader
Being a good manager or leader means more than just having the right people management skills. Leadership also requires a range of personal qualities, including emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strategic thinking.
Emotional intelligence
Good leaders understand and manage their own emotions and those of their team members, developing self-awareness, empathy, and communication skills.
Adaptability
Navigating today’s rapidly changing business environment requires great flexibility. Good leaders are open to new ideas and approaches and ready to pivot when circumstances change.
Strategic thinking
Good leaders develop innovative strategies to support organizational goals, regularly analyzing data and identifying trends to solve complex challenges.
Types of leadership styles
Leadership style refers to a leader’s approach to motivating and directing their team members. There are several types of leadership styles, each with corresponding strengths and weaknesses — and the most effective ones for your team will depend on your organization’s unique needs and culture. Six of the most common types of leadership styles include:
1. Coercive: Coercive leaders deliver directives commandingly, using punishment and negative reinforcement to motivate team members. While this style can be effective in certain situations, it can also lead to resentment and a lack of trust among team members.
2. Authoritative: Authoritative leaders set a clear vision and direction for the team, providing guidance and support. This style requires a leader who is skilled at communicating their vision and building trust with their team.
3. Affiliative: Affiliative leaders create a positive work environment and build strong relationships with team members. This style can be highly effective in building team morale and fostering a sense of loyalty among team members.
4. Democratic: Democratic leaders involve team members in decision-making and seek stakeholder input. This style helps promote a sense of ownership and engagement among team members.
5. Pacesetting: Pacesetting leaders set high performance standards and expect team members to meet them. While this style can effectively drive results, it can also lead to burnout and a lack of employee engagement.
6. Coaching: Coaching leaders provide ongoing feedback and support to help team members improve their skills and achieve their goals. This style helps foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Leadership in the workplace
The workplace is constantly evolving, and leadership styles have shifted in recent years to meet new demands. Here are a few areas modern leaders might consider focusing on:
• Collaborative leadership: Rather than taking a top-down approach, collaborative
leaders work with employees to create a shared vision and achieve common goals.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion: In our global and interconnected workplaces, prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion creates a more welcoming and supportive environment for all employees.
• Adaptability: As technology advances and times change, leaders must be adaptable and willing to pivot when necessary.
• Ethical leadership: Ethical leaders value transparency, honesty, and accountability in their decision-making.
• Emotional intelligence: Leaders with strong emotional intelligence can recognize and understand their emotions and those of their team members.
Leadership and management training programs
Want to help managers and leaders upskill at your organization? Establishing a strong leadership and management training program can be an excellent first step.
You may consider exploring online LinkedIn Learning courses, which offer a structured and effective way to provide employees with ongoing education and development opportunities.
By investing in leadership and management training programs, organizations can help employees gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed while fostering continuous learning and development. This investment supports both individual employees and the organization by improving efficiency, productivity, employee engagement, and retention.
Learn how LinkedIn can support hiring managers.
Leadership and management skills are essential for success in any industry. With LinkedIn Talent Solutions, your organization can easily find candidates with these critical skills — and streamline your hiring process while you’re at it.