We asked our Coaches “What are the most important Leadership Capabilities?” Here's what they had to say:
“Coaches Corner” shares perspectives from Sounding Board’s global network of coaches on trending and relevant topics, as explored through our leadership capabilities coaching model.
Leadership Capability: Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
"Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion is a daily practice. A practice of the heart and the mind. Humans are creatures of habit. We do what we know until we are introduced to new information, new intelligence. Even then, it's hard to integrate that new information into changes without a stake, our reason why. As leaders, the daily practice of DEI requires a shifting of habits, a questioning of norms, and visibility of biases. It requires intentionally amplifying marginalized voices to create diversity in the field of awareness. Leaders become culturally intelligent by inviting new information in and activating it to a new way of being and doing."
- Michelle H., Texas
Leadership Capability: Time Management & Prioritization
“Time-boxing. Pomodoro Technique. Eisenhower’s ‘Important versus Urgent’ matrix. All useful tools and tips for helping someone to better manage their time. But what if I said that the most important time management lesson for a leader to learn was the one about saying no? If you have too much to do, then you need to find a way to have less to do. It’s about knowing what ONLY you can do and delegating the rest; clearly and effectively. Sometimes, it’s just not your job anymore.”
- Nicki L., China
Leadership Capability: Leading High Performance Teams
“There are likely as many definitions of “high performing” as there are leaders. Be clear what high performing looks like for you. Share this vision with your team and stakeholders. Focus on what the team can achieve together, that could not be achieved individually. Think future-back and outside in. Inspire the team to think big. The leader’s role is to enable and empower, clearing obstacles from the team’s path. So how do you create this? Start with changing perceptions of failure. The acronym FAIL (For All I Learned) helps. The greatest growth happens outside our comfort zone.”
- Craig H., United Kingdom
Leadership Capability: Managing Change
“The pace of change has never been this fast, and it will never be this slow again. Leaders who can “Lead in the Moment” manage change most effectively. Here are the hallmarks of these leaders. They make decisions with the information they have at the time. They communicate what is known even when they don’t have all the answers. They help people solve their problems versus solving everyone else’s problems. Lastly, they have an experimentation mindset embracing failure as a learning opportunity. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable and learn to lead in the moment.”
- Maryanne S., North Carolina
Leadership Capability: Time Management & Prioritization
"Time management in leadership is more than putting a to-do list in order. It's about managing your attention as well. As leaders progress in their careers, they must steadily carve out time and space for their own priorities. This is a major shift for those who made their reputations in executing the priorities of others. It's also a challenge for those who like to say yes. So much growth in leadership depends on deciding what to ignore. Your time and attention are the most previous resources you have. It's time to put them to their highest and best use."
- Alan H., Maryland
