Essential Steps To Improve Your Personal Leadership Skills

SWOT analysis

Perhaps the most important skill to master is figuring out how to be a genuine source of help, as you attempt to manage up. With this in mind, you can be a source of help for your boss. If your boss does not fall into the following categories, or you are in-between jobs, then relate this concept to the last boss that you had. Some things to consider when influencing others are, helping people to like you as an individual ready to help, trying reciprocity by helping others, and hoping that they help you when in need. You can help your boss as you employ the managing-up skills.


Perhaps you are dealing with:

Once you have determined how you can influence people by managing up, it is suggested that come up with a plan to work on them. Do it by using the SWOT analysis below:   

1. Strengths

•  I am creative and innovative. 
•  I communicate well. 
•  I ask the most appropriate questions at the right time and at the right place when I am engaged in a conversation with someone. 

2. Weaknesses

•  I sometimes get ahead of myself and attempt to multitask too much. 
•  I respond to people before they finish what they are saying so that I do not forget my point of view. 
•  I often feel that my perspective of a situation is more important than anyone else’s point of view. 

3. Opportunities

•  I see an opportunity to help my colleagues with my creativity and innovation. 
•  I attend national conferences each year and I can use this conference to build upon my skills. 
•  I have a great deal of experience and I can succeed in the new ventures that I embark upon. 

4. Threats

•  I feel that I am sometimes at a loss for words. 
•  The current economic climate provides me with little opportunity for advancement in my current career. 
•  While I have some education, I feel that without an advanced degree, I am somewhat oppressed. 

After conducting this SWOT analysis, you know how you can build on your strengths while taking steps to lessen your weaknesses. Then, you can go forward with how you can take advantage of your opportunities and avoid your threats. 

Take some time to combine your knowledge of yourself from the above ideas. Develop your ability to engage in leadership. As you identify what you need to move up the corporate ladder, become a government executive, or lead in an academic front; consider the possible obstacles that you may face. Once you have identified your authentic self, which tenets of leadership are important to you, you identify your possible obstacles, and then you are ready to write a Goal-affirmation.

Once you have your Goal-affirmation, place what you need to do to accomplish this goal or objective on your To-do-List. Remember, you need an action plan to go with your goal. Then, determine the most important things on your To-Do-List to help you reach your goals and objectives, and most importantly, you will develop your action plans to accompany your goals.

	Dr. Michael J. Provitera is an international recognized management consultant, an associate professor of organizational behavior, and an author of the book titled “Mastering Self-Motivation” published by BusinessExpertPress.
	Mostafa Sayyadi Ghasabeh works with senior business leaders to effectively develop innovation in companies, and helps companies—from start-ups to the Fortune 100—succeed by improving the effectiveness of their leaders. He is a business book author and a long-time contributor to business publications. Connect Mostafa Sayyadi Ghasabeh