Leadership development goals: key competencies for leaders at all levels

SuccessFinder Ladder of Leadership findings

Our team of behavioral scientists at SuccessFinder conducted an extensive research analyzing data from more than 1,000 leaders across a wide range of industries and roles, researching critical competencies that drive high performance at each level of leadership: first/intermediate, senior and C-level management. They developed the SuccessFinder Ladder of Leadership, a model providing exclusive insights into the set of distinct behavioral competencies most likely to drive high performance for each level of leadership.

That research revealed two key behavioral competencies that stand out as essential to succeed at each level of leadership: thriving in chaos and leading decisively.

This article takes a closer look at these two critical competencies, exploring their importance and sharing practical ways to nurture them within your leadership team.

Thriving in chaos: a key competency for every leader

What does it mean to thrive in chaos?

Thriving in chaos refers to a leader’s ability to maintain control and deliver results in uncertain situations. It is the capacity to be efficient under seemingly chaotic demands, overlapping priorities, and to adapt quickly, acting with a sense of urgency. Leaders who thrive in chaotic environments are not only able to juggle multiple priorities, but they also inspire confidence in their teams during times of change. Leaders who thrive in chaos are more likely to achieve performance targets and succeed.

Why is thriving in chaos critical for leaders?

Leaders thriving in chaotic environments are:

– Instilling confidence: by remaining focused and stable in changing circumstances, they provide stability and direction in times of uncertainty, which fosters trust and security within their team.

– Encouraging agility: their ability to act quickly, to shift priorities in response to changing needs and schedules enables their teams to stay on track, responding to new challenges with agility.

– Fostering innovation: leaders who are comfortable in chaotic environments are often more open to new approaches and creative solutions, driving innovation within the organization.

Actionable steps to thrive in chaos

To help leaders develop this critical competency, the three underlying traits they could focus on for their development goals are: Efficiency – Operating informally – Being on-the-go.

Here are some practical steps:

– Prioritize effectively: identify your highest-impact tasks and ensure that your time and energy are focused on these priorities. Use methods like the Eisenhower matrix to separate urgent tasks from important ones.

– Optimize time management: implement time-blocking techniques, the Pomodoro method or task batching to stay organized and productive, even in chaotic situations.

– Embrace flexibility: recognize when the best solution is to pivot quickly in response to shifting priorities rather than holding rigidly to an initial plan and keep your energy level just as high when changing your way of doing.

– Take immediate action: don’t let uncertainty paralyze you. In urgent situations, prioritize swift decision-making, balancing structure and flexibility. Establish clear timeframes for decision-making to avoid unnecessary delays.

Leading decisively: core competency for high performance leadership

Leading decisively refers to the ability to make timely and informed decisions when all the data are not available, the situation is unclear, or the outcome is uncertain. It ensures leading a team with assertiveness to remain aligned, confident and focused on achieving goals regardless of challenges or ambiguity.

Why is leading decisively critical for leaders?

Indecision can severely hinder progress, confuse and demoralize teams, causing missed opportunities. Decisive leaders bring clarity and speed to the decision-making process. They are:

– Increasing team alignment: making quick decisions provides clear direction, ensuring each team member understands their roles and objectives so they can act cohesively toward common goals.

– Speeding up execution: gathering relevant data quickly to make decisions swiftly, enabling faster execution which is critical in a fast-moving business environment.

– Fostering ownership and accountability: those who lead decisively are not afraid to take responsibility for their decisions, which encourages a culture of ownership and accountability within their teams.

Actionable steps to lead decisively

To build this competency, your leadership development goals could include these three underlying traits: Decisiveness – Assertion – Power.
Here are some practical steps for leaders to lead decisively:

– Create a decision-making framework: reflect on your decision-making process and identify areas where you tend to hesitate or overthink. Develop a structured approach that helps you quickly assess options and make informed choices.

– Recognize and overcome barriers: Identify your personal barriers to decisiveness – whether they are fear of failure, limiting beliefs, perfectionism, or a need for more information. Actively work on overcoming these barriers by seeking feedback and practicing decision-making in low-risk scenarios.

– Be assertive without being overbearing: assertiveness is about making your point clear without being confrontational. Practice expressing your opinions with confidence, while still being open to feedback and alternative perspectives.

– Set clear boundaries and expectations: to make decisions more easily, ensure that roles, responsibilities and expectations are well-defined. This will help you make faster, more confident decisions with clarity on who is responsible for what.

Conclusion

Leadership development goals must be aligned with the specific needs of an organization, its leaders, and the challenges they face. While each leadership level requires distinct competencies, the ability to thrive in chaos and lead decisively are essential competencies that support success at any stage of leadership development.

By focusing on these two critical competencies, HR and talent development professionals can build leadership programs that prepare leaders to navigate uncertainty. They can make quick and confident decisions, guide their teams through challenging situations, and drive high performance in all types of environments.

Are you ready to elevate your leadership development strategy? At SuccessFinder, we provide the most comprehensive behavioral insights on the market to help you craft leadership programs that develop the right competencies at every leadership level. Learn more about us here.