What Does A Leader Do?/Leadership Definition

Business leaders use a wide range of leadership skills to ensure the success of their company or team. Leaders are responsible for setting goals, nurturing the company culture, motivating team members, implementing profit strategies, and ensuring legal compliance. Leadership roles usually refer to senior management positions, such as directors and chief executive officers. Still, they can also refer to people lower on the career ladder, such as team leaders or managers.

Leadership Role

There are many leadership roles, and creating a leadership job description requires choosing the most accurate and suitable job title. Leadership candidates may be searching for leadership titles such as:

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
• Chief of Staff
• Chief Operating Officer (COO)
• Chief Technology Officer
• Commercial Director
• Director of Operations
• Manager

The Role Of A Leader/Leadership Styles

The role of a leader can take on many forms, and these multi-hat wearers can leverage different leadership styles to help businesses and teams meet their objectives and goals:

THE COACH

Coaching is a core function of an effective leader, supporting and nurturing team members so they can succeed in their roles and careers. A coach gives constructive feedback, helps employees work through obstacles, acknowledges existing skills, and praises newfound success.

THE COMMUNICATOR

Leadership roles require excellent communication across different levels of seniority, adapting to the person, partner, client, or team member. Leaders must be able to share ideas, run meetings, relay strategies, speak to larger audiences, and create reports for senior management and stakeholders.

THE NETWORKER

Leadership requires building connections internally and externally. A core leadership function is to develop and strengthen relationships that help businesses grow through connections made at corporate events, conferences, and seminars.

THE STRATEGIST

A good leader must strategise, determining what actions, policies, and procedures will lead to success. The strategist has a vision for the team and business and acts as an ambassador that provides guidance and direction whenever needed.

THE DELEGATOR

Good leadership knows that it cannot perform every function and task. Leaders must delegate duties, responsibilities, and projects to employees with the relevant skills, experience, or willingness to learn and grow.

THE MOTIVATOR

Leaders need to be a constant source of motivation that encourages individuals and teams to strive for success. They inspire action, provide mentorship, and encourage all to reach their potential.

THE ROLE MODEL

The role model sets an excellent example across values, beliefs, and actions. Their personality and mindset should shine as an image of how other employees should act, behave, and think in the workplace.

THE TRAINER

Leaders are trainers that help those eager to learn to develop their skills and experience. Leaders may train new or existing employees at junior or senior levels, regardless of company size.

THE INNOVATOR

The best leaders effortlessly innovate, bringing new and improved ways of working and thinking to the business to ensure it succeeds and stays ahead of the competition. Successful companies often have an innovator at the helm, helping teams surpass their comfort zones and become truly unique.

THE ADAPTOR

Leaders need flexibility as unexpected events require swift change and a suitable response. The adaptor helps the business and team members change direction with agility, speed, and proficiency.

Leadership Responsibilities And Duties/Function Of Leadership

A group, company, or team leader is responsible for completing many tasks. Typically, leadership responsibilities and duties include the following:

• Providing inspirational leadership
• Delegating tasks to team members
• Assessing staff training needs
• Coaching managers and team members
• Providing direction and strategy
• Developing the business plan and company policies
• Identifying new business opportunities and new markets
• Developing the company culture
• Ensuring regulatory and legal compliance
• Achieve goals set by the board and stakeholders
• Overseeing financial performance/controlling budgets
• Acting as a public spokesperson at media events and conference
• Ensuring day-to-day operational efficiency
• Setting sales, profit, and performance goals/setting clear team goals
• Reporting to stakeholders, senior management/executives, and the board
• Reviewing existing group strategies to identify opportunities
• Managing relationships with business partners
• Developing the business mission statement
• Leading by example/team leading
• Monitoring performance metrics

Leadership Skills

Anyone can be a business leader with the right leadership skills. Soft skills and interpersonal skills such as communication skills, motivation, coaching employees, and strategic thinking are top leadership skills. Other leadership skills for leader job descriptions include the following:

• Active listening skills
• Excellent written communication skills
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Delegation skills/delegating
• Coaching and mentoring/mentorship
• Public speaking skills
• Motivation/motivating managers and staff
• Passion
• Team-building/people management/conflict management
• Planning/strategy
• Flexibility/adaptability
• Resource planning skills
• Evaluation and analysis
• Negotiation skills
• Diplomacy skills
• Credibility/trustworthiness/integrity
• Honesty/transparency
• Creativity/vision/innovation
• Good judgment/decision making
• Problem-solving skills
• Self-assessment/self-reflection/accepting team members’ feedback
• Committed/determination/perseverance
• Professionalism
• Business management skills
• Ambition/desire to succeed
• Computer software proficiency/good PC skills
• Risk-taking

Leadership Qualifications And Education

Many leaders fall into leadership positions and rely solely on experience and their natural ability and leadership skills. However, the best leaders gain relevant qualifications and education before or during their career. The top qualifications you might request from applicants or seek when reviewing applications, cover letters, and CVs include the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Business Management, Marketing, or Accounting and Finance
• Level 3 Business Administration
• Certificate in Business Administration
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Qualifications
• Chartered Manager Status
• Two A Levels

Required Leadership Experience And Leadership Training

Existing businesses often require leaders with previous directorship experience and a solid understanding of business strategies, finance, and performance. Leadership training can be an indicator of an outstanding leader, and some of the best leaders complete a Senior Master’s Degree Apprenticeship to quantify and perfect their leadership skills.

Leadership Job Description FAQs

Here we answer your questions on leader/leadership skills, duties, and qualifications for your job descriptions and hiring process.

WHAT ARE LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES?

Leadership responsibilities and team leader responsibilities are the duties the individual needs to complete to achieve the objective of the role and organisation. Leadership responsibilities include determining strategies, setting clear team goals, assessing training needs/training team members, monitoring goal progress, providing motivation, delegating tasks, and acting as the company’s public voice.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT LEADERSHIP SKILLS?

Qualified candidates achieve goals and complete tasks by leveraging the most critical leadership skills. Leadership skills include adaptability, relationship building, decision-making, communication, negotiation, conflict management, critical thinking, and motivating teams. Our leader job description template includes examples of tasks, goals, and leadership skills.