Rate your Leadership Skills

True leaders in business, government or society are typically strong-willed people But they also communicate well and inspire others Yet it happens that heads of organizations aren't always leaders People can make their way to the top through happenstance or connections, then view themselves as leaders while ignoring the fact that they don't motivate their teams

How about your own leadership skills? How would you rate yourself? Do others see you the same way or is the face in the mirror telling you that you're the "fairest in the land?"

Here's a quick test First, measure your leadership abilities on your own On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest, evaluate yourself in four categories: vision, strategic thinking, people skills and results Add up the points and you'll have an overall score

Now turn to others Ask your boss, your colleagues, your employees and your spouse to rate you as a leader Pick two colleagues whom you can count on for straight answers Pick two or three employees who work well for you and whose opinions you respect Add up their scores and average them out You can determine an overall average score, as well as average scores for each category

See if the overall average is where you rated yourself Then look at the scores for each category You may be surprised that areas you viewed as strengths are not considered such by others Or perhaps you'll be pleased to know they have a high opinion of you in some categories

Now are you willing to change? True leaders are self-confident, but not inflexible Listen to others and grow as manager in your organization


It's hard to believe that there are leadership lessons in the Disney Classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," but it's true No, not how to manage an employee named Grumpy Rather, how to be a boss who is a leader and not someone who needs constant reassurance by the face in the mirror