The Most Important Leadership Competencies, According to Leaders Around the World.

Sunnie Giles, an organizational scientist, conducted a study involving 195 leaders from 30 companies across 15 different countries. Her goal was to explore what makes an effective leader. The findings emphasized that soft skills and emotional intelligence are essential for leadership success. Five key themes emerged: 1) Maintaining high ethical standards to create a secure environment, where fairness is expected. 2) Empowering team members to self-organize, enhancing productivity and effectiveness by distributing authority. 3) Fostering a sense of connection and belonging through open communication. 4) Encouraging new ideas and experimentation, allowing room for mistakes and learning. 5) Supporting employees' professional and personal growth through advocacy, training, and project sponsorship.