This document printed from the University
of Illinois Extension Tent Poles at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/macon/
Leadership Skills
February 20, 2007
Rexlyn Nicole
Community and Economic Development Program Coordinator
Macon County Unit 2535 Millikin Parkway
Decatur, IL 62526
Phone: 217-877-6042
FAX: 217-877-4564 rxnicole@uiuc.edu
How good are you at leading others? Do you know? Have you tried? When looking at leadership skills many of the previous skills that we talked about are important. Critical thinking should be a well developed skill that you possess. Others tend to listen to someone who can think through difficult situations and not panic. Listening skills are even more important in a good leader. Knowing when someone else has a great idea and capitalizing on it with a team effort will always go a long way in being a good leader and a good team member. Problem solving and decision making are two strong and important tools to have developed and knowing how and when to use them to the best of your team is also very skillful. Knowing and applying logic and good reasoning as well as being able to lay out good planning will carry you and your team to a well established platform of production. Self esteem building in yourself and in others will always be a skill that unites a team to its leader in a strong and profitable venue. Developing and using good goal setting measures is also a strong skill that will move your team as well as your leadership into a positive role for your company as well as for your own well being.
If you look at life as a tent, do you know the importance of tent poles? When putting up the tent, the tent poles are hard to deal with, they are cumbersome and yet without them, there is no tent. The tent poles are there for support. They are the backbone of the tent. They are the foundation of the cover against the storm while camping. Tent poles are in your every day life as well. They are there propping you up when times are tough. Do you know who and what your tent poles are?