On a recent flight, I was intrigued by an article in the US Airway In-flight magazine that caught my eye; both from my own professional growth but also as a potential Alliance Ambassador article/resource.  So I immediately turned to Five Leadership Skills You Can’t Do Without. First, I wanted to know “is this something that would be a useful read for Alliance Ambassadors; and, secondly, “am I practicing these five leadership skills?”  Well, I must say, the article and the link to the free 34-page Keeping Your Career On Track Twenty Success Strategies booklet are pretty darn good.  And, I believe worth sharing with each of you.

The Center for Creative Leadership says there are five (5) leadership skills that all of us can’t do without; which are:

1. Never Stop Getting Feedback - solicit feedback regularly. After a meeting ask others “how do you think that went?”  “What could I have done better?”

2. Become More Self-aware – under constant pressure to produce, some leaders believe reflection is a waste of time, but look for patterns and getting perspective helps you remain flexible in the face of change.

3. Understand Your Organization’s Culture – knowing how hour organization thinks is critical for aligning yourself with its goals—and, helps you weather the changes that occur in every organization over time.

4. Show Empathy – listen without judgment.  Take the feelings and perspective of others into account.  If someone tells you something in confidence, keep it private.

5. Learn to Listen – hearing is not the same as listening.  Turn away from email and the pile of papers on your desk and focus on the person in front of you.  Separate what you think about a person from what s/he is saying.  Ask questions.  Summarize what you heard without passing judgment or making snap decisions.

And, if I might, I’d like to add one more:

6. Attitude - a “can do, will do, consider it done” attitude can contribute as much to being recognized as a leader as education, work history and specialized skills.  Or, so I believe.