Insights from Head of Coaching

Dear Students,
 

What, exactly, are “global leadership skills?”
 

While ambitious international students like you will come to recognize, through our coaches, the need to develop such competencies, as Daniel Goleman, the prominent psychologist who wrote a #1 bestseller on emotional intelligence writes, it’s also important for new professionals, such as you and your friends, to realize that “leadership skills” are not homogenous. In other words, rather than there being one style of leadership that works for everyone, in every situation, effective leadership actually requires the adaptability to situationally wield additional power skills, including:
 

Hence, the origins of the term “situational leadership,” a concept developed over 50 years ago that is still commonly utilized today (please see: Situational Leadership Explanation for more details).
 

And while candidates like you may be most likely to leverage the three or four lowest levels on the continuum shown in the article below, it’s helpful to understand how/when each works, for collaborating with colleagues, “managing your boss” and assessing when to “push back” on decisions.
 

The article below is an interesting read, and a valuable piece for aspiring talents and young professionals (like you and your classmates), who are expected to exhibit leadership skills early on in your career in the West.