21st Century has seen a major rise in the gig economy which has led many businesses to adopt flatter, more flexible organizational structures. With COVID-19 disrupting the office structure, now is the perfect time for businesses to focus on finding good leadership. In addition to these new challenges, a younger generation is beginning to work alongside millennials.

These factors have HR personnel thinking about the skills talent leadership will need in the 21st Century. The idea of work has changed and will continue to change and while the change in work happens, the leadership skills needed within that change have changed as well. Here are the most important leadership skills you should look for:

1. Empathy

The ability to understand what others feel plays a significant role in the personal and professional success of any leader. It is important for leaders to be human and understand people’s feelings rather than simply analyzing them through calculations. Leaders need to be able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes to understand their point of view and perspective. Leaders need to be able to put themselves in someone else’s shoes to understand their point of view and perspective as being empathetic helps to build relationships and avoid conflicts.

2. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to identify, understand and manage emotions. EI has become an important trait because leaders today are usually managing varied emotions daily, not just those within themselves but also those in other employees too. Leaders should have the skills to identify what these emotions are without allowing any negative ones to affect judgment or decisions.

3. Confidence

Courage and confidence remain the foundation of leadership and service. Leaders need to be confident in themselves and have strong convictions in the company’s mission and be able to withstand criticism from both internal and external sources. Self-confident leaders inspire and empower team members while building trust, enthusiasm, and innovation. Higher levels of confidence are the binding elements of effective leadership at all times and places.

4. Responsibility

Good leaders not only take on responsibility, but they also know when to let go of responsibility and delegate to others. Leaders need to know how to play to the strengths of those around them and allocate responsibility accordingly. People with leadership skills ensure their team has the knowledge, resources, and tools they need to succeed. It is also important to decide how you’ll monitor progress without micromanaging.

5. Communication skills

Leaders need to be able to communicate their thoughts and feelings with others. Communication should never stop whether it is in a team meeting, through email, or by phone call. Good communication is a key skill that any leader needs today because they are interacting not just with their staff but also with their customers and clients on a day-to-day basis. Communication skills include being articulate enough so others can understand what someone is trying to say without confusion as well as having good listening skills to respond respectfully when necessary.

6. Inspiring

Leaders need to encourage and inspire their team members. They should have the ability to help maintain the team morale and hope in difficult times will help them prosper. A leader’s actions and personal stories can inspire others to work smarter, take better care of themselves, see their collective goal in a new light, and so much more. Leaders should also inspire trust by being honest, transparent, and ethical, keeping promises, and generally making sure they don’t say one thing and then do another.

7. Feedback

Good leaders can give and receive feedback, both positive and constructive. Leaders shouldn’t put off giving and receiving feedback and should do it regularly otherwise it can overwhelm both employees and leaders. Leaders often have a process in place for regular catchups, where they can chat through progress and give feedback. Leaders also don’t dilute constructive feedback with praise. While it’s important to regularly give people praise, you shouldn’t do it at the same time as constructive feedback.

Exceptional leadership is key to the success of any business and all enterprises need to have a great executive search team. However, not all businesses have the proper team or resources to hire top leadership candidates. RPO companies can help you recruit the perfect person to help you grow your business and teams.

The #1 RPO company in India, Profit By RPO offers incomparable recruitment services to businesses across the globe. The company will take the time and resources to build trust and relationships with you. As a result, they’ll help you create a successful talent acquisition operation that delivers strong results over a long period.