Here are eight areas to focus on if you want to become a more competent leader: Integrity. Participants were asked to choose the 15 most important leadership competencies from a list of 74. As the leader moves to organizational and strategic level positions, the competencies provide the basis for leading through change. Important leadership competencies to target. He is the one guiding the sails. Effective communication and effective leadership are closely intertwined. It doesn’t have to be clinical; not all nurses work in clinical areas (I certainly don’t). An organization without a leader is like a ship without a captain. Leaders continuously refine and extend the ability to perform these competencies … Importance of leadership. Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. Most important when deciding which political party to vote for: * Indicates that the change is statistically significant. It shows you where you are on the map in a sense. But I’m always looking – when I’ve got time – for something that will make my personal practice in leadership and education better, to increase my competence in my specialist field. Leadership is Character in Action That’s why leadership and management are different. We need leaders who are smart and possess character. Leaders are often judged by their character. Managerial competence. Communication is a core leadership function and a key characteristic of a good leader. Continuing our previous leadership example, imagine you are in a new leadership role and wanting to develop your skills. This is a great analogy to explain the second benefit of competencies – they can be evaluated. Leaders acquire the basic competencies at the direct leadership level. Learning to stay centered within yourself and choosing to act instead of react amongst the inevitable and changing circumstances helps leaders lead more mindfully and effectively. The way you carry yourself as a leader affects everyone around you and your place of work. Leadership plays the most vital role in the achievement of the organizational excellence. The most important competency is leadership presence. It is essential to define and build the competency dictionary for an organization that consists of a list, definition and indicators of all core, functional and leadership competencies required by all the employees to perform according to their specific job description. It’s critical. The results set out in the table above indicate that while the divide over the importance of competence is not new, the divisions over policy and leadership are. Harvard CMO Brian Kenny said, “These changes are aimed to create leaders of competence and character, rather than just connections and credentials.” Being smart is not good enough. This is important because it identifies where you currently are. Why Is Communication Important in Leadership? 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