How to Improve Your Cognitive Skills for Successful Leadership Qualities of a Leader

What are the qualities of a leader? Winston Churchill, one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, once said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” A leader must possess both audacity and humility to take initiative while considering the input of others.

Active listening, emotional intelligence, empathy, critical thinking, a positive attitude, and the ability to build a strong team are intrinsic qualities of modern leadership. Authoritarian leaders who make decisions and set goals in isolation, without leveraging the expertise of their team, are no longer compatible with effective leadership.

The 21st-century business leader is an informed, curious, and attentive individual who listens to everyone and asks questions repeatedly to gather all the useful information needed for making sound decisions and solving problems.

They have developed critical thinking skills, enabling them to analyse situations from various perspectives and go beyond established truths and familiar ideas to innovate and forge new paths.

Harvard University has defined the eight qualities that leaders need today in order for companies and large organisations to succeed in a globally interconnected world undergoing constant social and technological changes.

The first of these qualities is the ability to navigate complexity. A good leader must be able to leverage complexity to solve problems and make decisions in rapidly changing systems. “Even before having sufficient information, they must be capable of assessing the complexity of the situation and choosing appropriate actions,” states the Harvard report.

They must have a global mindset because globalisation has heightened the level of complexity. Therefore, a leader needs the ability to recognise the global landscape and identify opportunities that other markets can offer. It is necessary to understand consumer behavior, competitors, economy, and politics in other markets.

They must act strategically to stay ahead of the competition. A continuous and flexible long-term vision is crucial. “They must always be prepared to adjust their strategies and seize emerging opportunities, as well as face unexpected challenges,” indicates the report from the American university.

They should promote innovation within their environment because, according to Harvard experts, no matter how brilliant a strategy may be, it cannot sustain a company’s competitiveness indefinitely. Therefore, constant renewal is necessary, generating new products, services, and business processes to continue growing.

They should leverage their networks and create new ones as work is increasingly carried out through relationships beyond the boundaries of companies. Leaders who excel in networking know that it is not just a tool but an opportunity to foster collaboration and achieve new objectives within the organisation.

Moreover, they must have developed their emotional intelligence sufficiently to inspire commitment among their team members, a crucial aspect. “People may hold positions in a team for years, but they will not contribute value to the organisation if they are not interested in their work,” explains the Harvard report.

Flexibility is the seventh quality demanded of leaders in these times, as they must constantly adapt to a changing reality and maintain a fresh perspective with new ideas to seize opportunities.

Lastly, leaders are expected to be agile learners. They need to keep their cognitive performance at an optimal state so that they can embrace a constant state of learning and experimentation.

Considering all the attributes required of a leader, one significant aspect is missing. To fulfill these expectations, a leader must be mentally and physically rested. Continuous learning, innovation, active listening, and maintaining sharpness and critical thinking all require avoiding cognitive overload and exhaustion. Leadership skills are enhanced when the brain is rested and has regained its ability to concentrate and think critically. Rest is not optional; it is a time that top executives must reserve to maintain the balance Churchill demanded of all great leaders.