If you’re a baby boomer (born between 1946 and 1955), you probably don’t need to be reminded that your days in the workforce are winding down. Many of you are already retired, and it’s starting to leave a void in businesses that have been counting on you for your leadership. A new generation of leaders must now be prepared to step up and fill the vacuum.

But it might not be easy to find them. Many company officials are apprehensive about a possible scarcity of executive leaders. Some have initiated programs for fast-tracking leadership development while others are increasing spending on executive training and education.

All kinds of opportunities are cropping up for those with the proper motivation and mindset to pursue their professional goals and become today’s leaders. But what will they need to do so that they stand out from the rest of the field that’s competing for these openings?

Those who want to become part of the new leadership will need to develop the skills that are essential for that role. Here are some of them:

1.    Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Many believe emotional intelligence to be as important to your success as intellectual ability.  It’s about being able to identify and control your emotions while assessing the emotions of others. There skills that can be developed to boost emotional intelligence: learning how to handle stress, connecting with others through non-verbal communication, and using humor during challenging times are just some of them.

2.    Customer focus

Future leaders will be more focused on the customer and less concerned with the operations of the business. They will need to understand what matters to their clients and create a plan to deliver value to them.

3.    Innovative mentality

Leaders must also be able to create an environment that nurtures creative thinking at every level of the organization.  It requires identifying the tools that will inspire creativity and having the ability to come up with the resources to support the development of ideas and convert these ideas into commercial realities.

4.    A penchant for strategy

An organization’s success comes from having a strategy that incorporates business insights from customers, employees, and other stakeholders. Successful leaders have refined their ability to generate and apply these insights and opportunities into a strategy that drives their organization to success.

5.    Effective communication

Good communicators explain their vision and ideas in a way that makes sense and is easy to understand. They also have good listening skills, which means they are receptive to feedback from workers and customers.

6.    Showing passion for the work

Being a leader is not easy. It requires a strong spirit and grace under pressure. It means you need to constantly show positive energy, even when things are crumbling around you. It’s a skill that will define you as a leader.

Are you looking for the next generation of leaders?

Call us. We can help you find candidates with leadership qualities. Get in touch with HCR Personnel Solutions, a leading manufacturing recruitment agency in Canada that recruits top professionals for exceptional career opportunities.

 

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