Its now an economic and statistical reality that we’re living in a recessionary environment. With large corporations recruitment departments shrinking and some even making redundancies, career prospects have never looked so bleak.
This is why Leadership is becoming such an important skill for job seekers to have. Leadership is the key driving force that keeps businesses alive and even profitable during economic turmoil. Great leaders increase motivation of workers, encourage free flow of ideas, and improve the atmosphere of the working environment. The effect of a phenomenal business leader can be felt right from shop floor workers up to the board. Its an incredibly desirable trait in any employee. So here are 3 ways to boost your leadership skills for a potential employer.
1. Take opportunities to lead teams. Leadership isn’t a characteristic you can simply claim to have, and hope nobody will call your bluff. It is such a self-evident trait, that a veteran interviewer will be able to smell it on you when you walk through the door. You need to gain experience as a leader, so grab every opportunity you can to direct, coach and lead teams in your organisation or in local clubs and societies. I suggest you have 5 varied experiences to talk about confidently with an interviewer, where you demonstrated the skill of leadership.
2. Read leadership literature. Books are commonly put-down as a ‘useless’ resource for personal development simply because you don’t gain practical experience. This is such a mis-conception. Some of the greatest leadership minds of this century have put their ideas and beliefs on paper, and they have served generation after generation for inspiring and giving new people the courage to lead. Leadership books generate useful ideas that you can implement practically in your day-to-day experiences. So you see, leadership literature is a brilliant companion to your actual work, and will help improve the effectiveness of the techniques you use. I suggest reading ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie to start. This is one of the most popular books of all time, and delivers brilliant advice on how to handle all types of people in life.
3. Just say yes. More often than not, people take the safe option and say ‘no’ to choices that perhaps look to only carry mediocre benefits and plenty of risk of embarrassment or humiliation. What also is often the case however, is what these people are actually doing is instantly sensing the risk, and then not bothering to really see the inherent bonuses that could come from completing such a task. Next time you’re presented with a public speaking opportunity for instance, or a chance to organise a charity event within the office. For your career’s sake, say yes. The benefits to your CV will more than justify the risk of embarrassment.
So there you have it. If you make sure you incorporate these 3 tips into your working life, you will boost your leadership skills and be able to present these effortlessly to an impressed employer. I wish you every success in your future carrer.

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

We can teach people a lot of things, but there are two things we cannot teach people, potential hires or employeesjudgment and personality development.

Judgment is an interesting trait because the only way you can acquire judgment is by making judgments. Unfortunately, in the reality of life, some people simply have better judgment than others.

If you think the bank and financial lenders at the biggest companies in the United States always have good judgment, you are dead wrong. Their judgment can be terrible. Look at the recent subprime lending that was fueled by greed rather than good judgment. Just because the CEO of a company makes more judgments (or decisions), it does not mean that he or she makes good judgments (or decisions). People either have good judgment or they DO NOT, just as you are pregnant or not pregnant; there is no in-between.

Remember, too, that there can be a huge difference between having good judgment and being judgmental. Sometimes it is hard to forget your past. People can be judgmental about someone else’s ideas or opinions when their credibility is not on the line, but change like a chameleon when THEY are responsible for making a judgment.

Personality development cannot be taught because it is not driven by professional development (adding more college degrees, specialized training, seminars or one-on-one help). Personality development is driven not by professional growth but by personal growth.

This is why it is so difficult to take a bigoted person and change his or her attitude about racial issues. A bigoted man may well be as prejudiced on the day he dies as the day he decided to look down on someone or question their ability because of the color of their skin.

Personal growth is 100 times more difficult to achieve than professional growth because it requires that you not only learn or become aware of new information, but that you also willingly change your thought process and belief system. People CAN change but most people choose not to.

A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still. A woman convinced against her will is of the same opinion still.

The next two sentences are very important to know and understand: When we blame others, we give up our ability to change. If you lack the will for change, there is no one who can show you the way (that includes Jesus Christ himself).

You will rise higher faster by achieving more personal growth than professional growth. Many potential hires and employees have enough education to become successful. Many can also handle any necessary training required to become successful. Few, however, manage to achieve more personal growth than professional growth and remain stuck in their current position.