I was interviewed for an upcoming leadership book last week, and I was also interviewed by Entrepreneur Magazine this week about leadership & organizational culture. Over the last 20 years as an entrepreneur who has led and coached hundreds of other leaders, and has had the privilege to learn from some extraordinary leaders, I’ve identified the four most important skills great leaders must cultivate.

They are:

• Self-awareness and development of emotional intelligence
• Delegation, backed up by accountability
• “Double-vision” which is the ability to have vision for where you are going AND vision for what is coming towards you
• Asking for help

Self-Awareness/Emotional Intelligence
I listed this as the most important skill, because I believe we can always enhance our own self-awareness, and raise our EQ (emotional quotient). Our ability to connect with, empathize with, and relate to others starts with our ability to know ourselves. Self-awareness is complex and multi-layered. I compare it to peeling an onion: we never quite get to the center of the exercise.

Delegation/Accountability

Leaders require a strong team to help execute their vision. No leader excels at everything, and the ability to entrust critical tasks and strategies to others is essential for organizational growth. The flip side of the coin is accountability: ensuring that each person understands their role in the success of the company, and is responsible for delivering on their obligations so that things continue to move forward.

Double Vision
I wrote about Double Vision in a previous blog. Leaders must be able to visualize where they are going, while keeping an eye on what’s coming towards them. This dual awareness ensures their organizational vision is aligned to what the market needs. Here is the link to my blog on Double Vision.

Asking for Help
Finally, great leaders reach out for help often. They surround themselves with other leaders that have accomplished what they have accomplished. They join communities and organizations for support. They read relentlessly. Asking for help is a sign of strength, and a sign of commitment to build the very best organizational possible. We all must stand on the shoulders of giants at some point in our lives to see the horizon.

Video Recap
In my latest Periscope broadcast (which I have uploaded onto my YouTube channel and will be adding to my forthcoming video blog), I talk about these four skills in depth (in about 4 minutes). It’s worth a 4-minute break  – I promise!

Here is the link to my Periscope broadcast where I discuss these four skills. I have uploaded it onto YouTube for broader access. I often write about Emotional Intelligence as well; you’ll find lots of golden nuggets of wisdom about this on my blog too.

Enjoy, and as always, let me know how I can help you build your greatest business, and live your most joyful life! When done correctly, these goals are two sides of the same coin.

Image credit Stock Images via Free Digitial Photos