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Leadership Skills

There's no question that you're the boss - after all, it's your business. But are you a leader? Leadership is about much more than simply giving orders: it is about gaining the trust and respect of your employees, as you inspire them to perform successfully.

In order to gain the trust of your employees, first and foremost, you must have complete faith in yourself. To be a strong leader, your employees need to believe in you and what you are trying to accomplish. While it's common to assume that all true leaders have that certain je-ne-sais-quoi going for them, the truth is, anyone can improve their leadership skills.

Essential Qualities of a Strong Leader

There are certain identifiable traits that most effective leaders possess. Whether you're starting a new business and becoming a boss for the first time, or you've been running the show for years and you're looking to improve your leadership skills, keep in mind that a strong leader generally possesses the following qualities:

Conviction

It's vital that you believe in yourself. Show that you know your goals and that you know how to achieve them. Your employees will feed off your confidence.

Share your "team" vision

Keep your employees in the loop - they'll be motivated by their knowledge of the big picture going forward. Their prosperity is directly aligned to your plans for success. Stress the "team" angle - every member of the team is as important as the next. Make everyone's success your common goal.

Communicate

An open, transparent relationship with your employees will earn their respect. They want to know where you stand: be honest, balanced and straightforward, using your foresight to deal with everything - the good and the bad - quickly. Also, make a point of listening to their ideas; you want engaged employees.

Delegate

Recognize your employees' strengths and weaknesses, as well as your own. Rather than micro-managing, empower your employees to grow into roles that play to their strengths. Whenever possible, give them the opportunity to shine, with you as their biggest "fan".

Reward your employees

Whether it's a pat on the back, a thank-you lunch or a tidy bonus, always give your employees positive, honest feedback when it is due. Everybody likes to feel appreciated.

Check out the following resources for more information about leadership skills:

• Strong leaders build stronger companies
  
  http://www.bdc.ca/EN/advice_centre/articles/Pages/strong_leaders.aspx
  Considering the future of your company? Your leadership skills can determine how strong your business truly is.