The importance of leadership shouldn’t be underestimated. According to Gallup, managers account for 70% of the variance in employee engagement, highlighting the significant influence leaders have in a workplace or team.
Strong leadership skills can make a significant difference to workplace culture, employee engagement and organisational performance. But 91% say skills shortages are their biggest workforce challenge. Leadership capability is identified as a major contributor to this gap.
What’s more is that ‘Australia’s largest ever leadership survey has revealed drastic shortfalls in innovation and business performance, and outright failures in leadership development in organisations across the country.’
The good news is that leadership isn’t something you’re born with. Leadership skills can be learned, developed and strengthened over time through experience, reflection and training.
Here are five practical ways to improve your leadership skills at work.
1. Strengthen your communication skills
Communication is one of the most important leadership skills in any workplace. In fact, the Government’s National Skills Commission identify communication as one of the identified “five Cs” that are likely to shape our future and current labour market.
Good leaders know how to communicate clearly, actively listen and provide constructive feedback. They also understand that communication isn’t just about yapping away but about ensuring messages are understood and creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing ideas and concerns.
Practical ways to improve communication include:
- asking more questions and listening carefully to responses
- providing clear expectations and instructions
- giving regular feedback
- tailoring communication styles to different team members.
Workplace scenario:
A team leader notices repeated errors occurring during a process. Instead of assuming staff know what is expected, they schedule a team meeting to clarify procedures, answer questions and ensure everyone understands their responsibilities. As a result, errors decrease and productivity improves.
2. Improve your conflict management skills
Conflict is a natural part of any workplace. Different personalities, priorities and working styles can sometimes create tension within teams.
Rather than avoiding difficult conversations, effective leaders address issues early and focus on finding constructive solutions.
Strong conflict management involves:
- listening to all perspectives
- remaining calm and objective
- focusing on facts rather than emotions
- working towards mutually beneficial outcomes.
Conflict management is no longer just a useful interpersonal skill. In Australian workplaces, unresolved conflict is increasingly connected to psychosocial risk, mental stress claims, workplace bullying, formal disputes and lost productivity. Safe Work Australia identifies ‘conflict or poor workplace relationships and interactions’ as a psychosocial hazard, alongside bullying, harassment, violence and aggression. Leaders who can address issues early, communicate clearly and manage disagreement constructively are better placed to protect both performance and wellbeing.
Workplace scenario:
Two employees disagree about responsibilities on a project, causing delays and frustration. A manager facilitates a discussion, clarifies expectations and helps both employees agree on a way forward. The issue is resolved before it impacts the broader team.
Leaders who can effectively manage conflict often create stronger, more collaborative workplaces.
3. Become a more confident decision-maker
A huge part of being a leader is decision making. In fact, it has been reported that ‘…executives on average spend almost 40 percent of their time making decisions…’
Leadership often requires making decisions with limited information and competing priorities.
While no leader gets every decision right, strong leaders are willing to assess the information available, weigh up options and make informed decisions with confidence. Importantly, organisations that excel at decision-making see better financial results.
Practical ways to strengthen decision-making include:
- gathering relevant information before acting
- considering potential risks and consequences
- seeking input from others when appropriate
- taking responsibility for outcomes.
Workplace scenario:
A supervisor must decide how to allocate resources during a particularly busy period. After consulting with team members and reviewing workloads, they develop a plan that balances productivity with employee wellbeing.
The ability to make thoughtful decisions builds trust and confidence within teams.
4. Learn how to build, lead and inspire teams
Did you know according to a recent survey by Deloitte only ‘… (26%) of organizations report that their managers are very or extremely effective at enabling the performance of people on their teams…’ That is a dismal number.
But leadership isn’t about managing tasks. It’s about helping people work towards a shared goal. Gallup research shows that ‘…employees who strongly agree that their leaders made them “feel enthusiastic about the future,” 69% are engaged…’
Great leaders create a sense of purpose, build trust and help team members understand how their work contributes to broader organisational success, which all leads to better motivation,
Ways to strengthen this leadership skill include:
- recognising and celebrating achievements
- encouraging collaboration
- delegating responsibility appropriately
- providing coaching and support
- helping employees develop their skills.
Workplace scenario:
A newly promoted manager spends time helping employees understand how their individual roles contribute to organisational objectives. Team members become more engaged because they can see the value and impact of their work and not just a bunch of meaningless tasks.
When employees feel connected to a shared purpose, they are often more motivated and productive.
5. Develop agility and adaptability
Workplaces are changing faster than ever. New technologies, changing customer expectations, economic conditions and evolving workplace practices require leaders to be adaptable.
Leaders who demonstrate learning agility are willing to embrace change, seek new knowledge and adjust their approach when circumstances change.
Practical ways to improve adaptability include:
- being open to feedback
- continuously learning new skills
- staying informed about industry trends
- viewing challenges as opportunities to learn
- remaining flexible when plans change.
Workplace scenario:
A business introduces new software that changes existing processes. Rather than resisting the change, a team leader embraces the learning process, supports their team through the transition and helps employees adapt more quickly.
Why leadership development matters
While experience is valuable, many leadership skills develop faster when supported by structured learning and professional development.
Leadership development programs provide opportunities to:
- build confidence
- strengthen communication skills
- improve decision-making
- develop conflict management strategies
- learn practical techniques for motivating teams.
For organisations, investing in leadership development can support succession planning, improve employee engagement and help develop future leaders from within.
For individuals, leadership training can open the door to new responsibilities, career progression and greater workplace influence.
Leadership skills can be learned
The most effective leaders are rarely those who simply rely on natural ability. They are people who continually work on developing their communication, conflict management, decision-making, team leadership and adaptability.
Whether you’re preparing for your first leadership role or looking to strengthen your existing capabilities, investing in your leadership skills can benefit both your career and your organisation.
At Time Education & Training, our customised leadership development programs and corporate training help emerging and experienced leaders build practical workplace and employability skills that can be applied immediately. Because every workplace is different, training can be tailored to suit your organisation’s goals, challenges and people.
