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Leadership Skills for Success

document showing skills for success

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As a leader, I:

Interact with integrity

People are respected and engaged.

  • Convey respect and professionalism in interactions.
  • Seek to understand and then to be understood.
  • Put others at ease, and respond calmly even in difficult situations.
  • Be honest and trustworthy; have a high standard of personal conduct.
  • Acknowledge your mistakes and errors, take timely corrective action, including an apology if appropriate.
  • Demonstrate empathy and compassion for others.
  • Give, ask for and act on feedback.
  • Manage conflict, taking uncomfortable or unpopular action when necessary. 

Create an open and inclusive environment

So people feel like they belong.

  • Create an environment of trust.
  • Demonstrate respect for all individuals.
  • Actively invite new ideas, alternatives and perspectives.
  • Integrate workplace flexibility as a part of a results oriented work culture.
  • Speak up and take action if others are being excluded or treated inappropriately.
  • Acknowledge the support and contributions of every person. 

Inspire and articulate a shared vision and mission

People know how their work aligns with university and team goals.

  • Understand the University’s strategic goals and deliver aligned outcomes.
  • Be adaptable, embrace, promote and implement change.
  • Deliver results today with a sustainable future in mind.
  • Demonstrate foresight and imagination to see possibilities, opportunities and trends.
  • Model stewardship within the organization and University.
  • Monitor and re-evaluate decisions, priorities and plans in order to achieve a vision.

Communicate clearly and consistently

So people are informed and heard.

  • Listen first.
  • Share important information and decisions in a timely manner.
  • Ensure people have a clear understanding of the expectations and desired result.
  • Convey thoughts clearly, verbally and when writing.
  • Adapt messaging to audience.
  • Summarize other points of view to confirm understanding.​

Empower staff to act and take initiative

People are supported and confident in taking ownership of their work and results.

  • Encourage anticipatory thinking to identify challenges and opportunities early.
  • Actively support others in taking initiative and responsible risks to innovate.
  • Use mistakes as opportunities for learning.
  • Balance the need to seek input and the need to take action.
  • Provide clear directions and expectations that will enable others to make sound decisions.
  • Deliver results on time and within budget.

Display sound judgment in problem solving

People proactively seek solutions to deliver results.

  • Bring stakeholders together to create alignment, shared understanding and action.
  • Ask insightful and probing questions.
  • Use data and metrics to provide informed and thoughtful analyses.
  • Consider impact on others outside your immediate area.
  • Synthesize complex information.
  • Anticipate obstacles and generate alternatives.

Am a great coach

People understand their current role and career options.

  • Make work challenging, meaningful and engaging for others.
  • Identify and focus on the most significant priorities, setting achievable goals, milestones and deadlines.
  • Provide others with productive and timely feedback.
  • Delegate and provide good exposure for team members.
  • Develop people and support their growth and mobility.