Here's how you can cultivate the essential leadership qualities for executive success.

Establishing an organizational vision is crucial to communicating the value proposition for long-term (3-5 year) growth to the workforce. Along with a mission statement and defined values, the vision statement is the executive team's opportunity to express the overarching, primary objective of the organization. It sets the stage for success when empowering the team, as they will know best how to organize, delegate, operate, and achieve their individual team goals and objectives to support the organization's strategy in achieving the desired results set forth in the vision statement.

People need to know exactly where they are and where they should go and why they should do it. Have well-defined and clearly explained objectives, so that they know what is wanted from each person. In my experience there is nothing as frustrating as not knowing where to go, constant instability. Leadership is weakened, as it is lost, employees are exhausted by such situations and the results for the end customer are harmed and relationships much more so. If this is not resolved quickly, greater consequences will begin to emerge, such as talent drain. That said, both in the company's daily life and in training, especially onboarding, this direction must always be passed on and reinforced to people.

IQ is a valuable metric when dealing with issues, just as EQ is important when dealing with people. As one transitions from "laborer" status to "manager" status, one must also begin to transition from IQ-led to EQ-led performance metrics, very much on a sliding scale with IQ metrics decreasing and EQ metrics increasing as one rises through the ranks to more senior positions.

Emotional intelligence is a fundamental skill in these AI times. Managers, HR's and training teams must practice active listening, resilience and empathy to engage people, transforming them into allies and creating genuine connections, obtaining respect and admiration from each person. This will bring incredible contributions, benefiting everyone.

Emotional Intelligence (EI) is essential for executives to build strong relationships and navigate workplace dynamics. Improve your EI by practicing self-awareness, seeking feedback from peers, and actively listening to your team. Cultivating empathy will enhance your leadership presence and foster a cohesive team environment. This skill not only helps in understanding others but also in making better, more informed decisions aligned with your organization's goals.

Having strong analytical skills allows one to think through potential challenges and discern viable solutions, but one must guard against "paralysis by analysis" by understanding that making a decision with 70-80% of available information is oftentimes better than waiting until having 100% because the longer it takes to make the decision to act, the risk of failure also increases.

Empowering people is something motivating for them. After all, no one likes to be micromanaged, right? In addition to providing managers with better conditions for efficient management. With people well trained (monitor, if they are not, review immediately), motivated and welcomed, with a sense of belonging and trust. They will produce efficiently and effectively, as they will be satisfied with the work environment and aware of the objectives, best practices and expectations.

In my experience what I have found useful is using key person of influence framework as Daniel Priestley suggests. This entails identifying and connecting with Key People of Influence thinking about the assets you bring and offer ie books, articles you wrote or anything else. Focus on building a diverse network across industries, attending events, and genuinely engaging with people. Remember, it’s about giving 3x time first to your network and community before you can receive.

Cultivating leadership qualities is key to executive success. Start with vision crafting by reflecting on your organization's core values and developing a clear, inspiring roadmap that aligns team efforts and motivates everyone towards a common goal. Enhance emotional intelligence by practicing self-awareness, seeking feedback, and showing genuine interest in your team's perspectives. Refine decision-making skills with a structured process, and empower your team by fostering confidence and autonomy. Build a strategic network through authentic relationships and commit to continuous learning to stay ahead in the ever-evolving business landscape.