We all lead a team of one (sometimes more). Being a leader doesn’t mean that you are directing/managing/guiding others. It means having an awareness and practicing the competencies that make you the best person you can possibly be.
I’ve lifted/listed this tremendous list from NYS Work Force and Success: Leadership and Management Competencies
(And if you click on the competency, it will take you to a list of skills. This can be great for generating ideas for your resume and developing accomplishment stories!)
Leadership & Management Competencies
Accountability | Empowering Others | Managing Risk |
Analytical Thinking | Entrepreneurship | Negotiating |
Building Trust | Establishing Focus | Organizational Communications |
Change Management |
Exercising Self-Control/Being Resilient | Partnering/Networking |
Coaching | Facilitation | Political Skill |
Communicating in Writing | Fiscal Management | Project Management |
Communicating Orally | Flexibility | Providing Direction |
Conflict Management | Getting Results | Providing Motivational Support |
Continual Learning | Influencing Others | Solving Problems |
Continual Improvement | Initiative | Systems Thinking |
Customer Focus | Innovation | Technical Credibility |
Decision Making | Interpersonal Skills | Technology Use/Management |
Delegation | Listening |
Thinking Strategically |
Developing Others | Maintaining Personal Credibility/Meeting Ethical Standards | Valuing and Leveraging Diversity |
Emotional Intelligence | Managing Performance | Visioning |
Which of these is NOT important to your personal success? How would you rate yourself in these areas? Are there any that you think you should improve upon?
As I re-read Seth Godin’s “Linchpin” he talks about changing our perspective of work. Godin says we should no longer be cogs in the system. Not being a cog, to me, means developing these leadership competencies. What do you think?

Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.