Nobody likes to be stagnant in their careers. Everyone looks to move forward and attain a higher position. But to achieve that, a person must be able to show that he or she possesses the necessary skills. Every level of employment needs a certain set of capabilities that will make it possible to perform the job well. Those qualifications that someone possessed when getting a job will not be enough for moving to a higher position.

In many firms, people are promoted to leadership positions because they have performed well in their job. But they may struggle as a team leader because being a manager requires a special set of skills. So, what are those that an executive must necessarily have?

1. Building Relationships

Everything hinges on relationships. Whether it is in your official or personal lives, creating and maintaining relationships is very important. The XLRI executive development courses can tell you that developing good working relationships is key to getting work done smoothly and efficiently. It has been proved in studies that companies with good employee engagement had lesser product defects, improved productivity, and less absenteeism.

One way to achieve this is to use official meetings to let team members know more about you. Let people learn from a leader’s experiences. When someone has done a good job, send them “thank you” notes. Share their good work on the company’s internal network. Such gestures go a long way in making them go above their job requirements when a need arises. Team-building activities are good to improve relationships.

2. Adaptability To Change

There is no other time when a change has been felt so much at the workplace. Automation and the adaptation of new tools have made working completely different from what it was. Combined with this is the speed with which competition is increasing from every region. No business is now constrained by geographical limitations. In such a situation adapting to change is an essential skill that every executive must possess.

An XLRI certificate course will teach that even if it means working out of your comfort zones, it is essential to adjust to changes, failing which it is possible to be left behind while others surge ahead. It is necessary to have a well laid-out plan for tackling changes. There must be a timeline within which to completely shift to a new system. Constantly check progress to see how well you are adjusting to the changes.

3. Be Innovative And Creative

All the companies that have left their competitors behind have been innovative in their concepts. They found solutions to customer pain points that others never thought about. It is not just in products, but even in how one performs daily activities, a person must find new methods that can improve efficiency. XLRI executive development courses recommend spending time away from regular work to think about new ways to improve productivity.

Being innovative and creative is essential for executives of today when companies are looking to move ahead of competitors with better products and services. Having impromptu meetings with team members and brainstorming on different ideas can give results. Allow others to throw in their ideas because one of them might be what is needed. It will also help you in getting everyone working towards the same goal.

4. Motivating Employees

Managers must be able to get their teams to contribute fully to achieving company goals. One cannot expect people to do their best at all times. Anyone is likely to feel the monotony of doing something over and over again. If people must perform, they must have something to look forward to. These need not be anything material. Even regular appreciation and commendations are good to keep them going.

Attending an XLRI certificate course in executive development can tell you about the importance of appreciating employees. That will work as the best motivation to keep them working better and harder. A good leader praises team members publicly but corrects them in privacy. It can boost employee engagement. A word of praise can work wonders in making people contribute more to achieve both team and company objectives.

5. Making Decisions

This may sound very simple. But this is one of the toughest jobs a manager can face. It is especially true when it comes to making unpopular decisions. Once you have made a decision it must be adhered to at any cost. An intelligent leader will have a plausible explanation for any step that he or she takes. It is essential to convince others about what you have decided and carry them along.

The values of an organization will have a lot of bearing on decisions made by executives. You must consider these values when making decisions and stick to them. Once you align both personal and professional values it is easy to apply them in all decisions. Taking a decisive step will be easier when you understand that they are made with the interest of all parties in mind.

6. Managing Conflicts

There are employees from different backgrounds and cultures in an organization. They also have different personal issues that may interfere with their work. In such circumstances, it is natural that conflicts arise between members of a team. Disputes can also arise between employees and customers or vendors. These can affect the smooth working of a company and bring down its productivity. An efficient manager can extract positive results from conflicts.

A good leader can foresee conflicts and avoid them. If they do occur despite efforts to stop them, then it is essential to diffuse the situation and see that they don’t affect work. Conflicts must be handled fairly. Both sides should be given opportunities to explain their views and a rational decision must be arrived at. The key to avoiding disagreements is to understand each member’s personality.

Summing Up

Everyone knows that a person can’t have all the traits required for a leader when he or she ascends to that position. But it is essential to know which ones are lacking and undergo the necessary training to acquire them. Attending courses conducted by reputed institutions are a good way to earn these qualities and become an efficient executive. Whether the training is provided by an organization or attended by an individual, what is important is to ensure that it will impart relevant knowledge.