How to List Leadership Skills on a Resume | Examples | Resume.com

How to List Leadership Skills on a Resume | Best Skills and Examples

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Listing your leadership skills on your resume can increase your perceived value to a prospective employer, making you a more appealing candidate for the job. This is especially important if you are applying for a managerial or executive role. Even if you are seeking an entry-level position, you can showcase your leadership skills to let the hiring manager know that you can assume an important role in the future. This article will discuss how you can properly list leadership skills on your resume to stand out from other job applicants.

What are leadership skills?

Leadership skills refer to abilities and strengths that enable you to oversee processes, direct initiatives and guide your team members toward specific goals. Since a leadership position involves a wide array of tasks, you will need to have multiple skills to become an effective leader, such as making sound decisions, allocating resources and motivating your staff. Although they are considered soft skills, you can learn leadership skills through lessons, practice and experience.

Examples of leadership skills

The leadership skills you need may vary depending on the employer and job position. However, certain leadership skills are generally considered more important. 

The following is a suggested list of the top leadership skills to include on your resume:

Communication skills

Communication skills are essential because they enable you to clearly convey your vision, objectives and strategies to your staff. As a leader, you have to know how to address your team, explain the requirements of a project and provide details of the tasks that need to be done. With good communication skills, you will also be able to know the strengths and weaknesses of your team members and delegate tasks to the right people.

Examples of communication skills:

  • Active listening
  • Verbal communication
  • Nonverbal communication
  • Clarity
  • Assertiveness
  • Friendliness
  • Empathy
  • Confidence

Organizational skills

If you are a leader in a company, you often have to handle several different tasks at the same time, such as instructing your team members, monitoring your projects and solving problems. Multitasking can easily result in confusion and errors, which can jeopardize the progress of your project. If you have the ability to organize your tasks, you will be able to create an efficient work process and stay focused on your goals, even if you face unexpected situations.

Examples of organizational skills:

  • Goal-setting and deadline-setting
  • Schedule creation
  • Project management
  • Delegation
  • Team management
  • Multitasking
  • Event coordination
  • Strategy implementation
  • Problem-solving

Motivational skills

Many factors can cause your team members to feel discouraged and lose focus on their responsibilities, from workplace conflict to personal problems. To be an effective leader, you have to know how to motivate them to maintain a high level of productivity and keep working toward your goals. Inspire your team members to follow your vision, make them feel valued, and help them achieve personal and professional growth.

Examples of motivational skills:

  • Motivational strategy creation
  • Appropriate delegation
  • Positive communication and feedback
  • Performance recognition
  • Relationship building
  • Empathy
  • Respect
  • Reward program implementation

Decision-making skills

As a leader, you constantly have to make important decisions that can have an impact on the success of your team or company. You have to be able to choose the right actions and the most effective solutions, sometimes within a very short time. If you are a competent decision-maker, you can help your company create effective strategies, minimize risks, solve problems and manage projects successfully.

Examples of decision-making skills include:

  • Active listening
  • Data analysis
  • Critical thinking
  • Creativity
  • Brainstorming
  • Forecasting
  • Planning
  • Strategizing
  • Problem-solving
  • Ability to think under pressure

Conflict resolution skills

Workplace conflict can lead to an unpleasant work environment that can have a negative impact on productivity and morale. If you are in a leadership position, you should be able to help conflicting team members reach a fair resolution and show respect toward each other. Conflict resolution skills can result in an amicable, cohesive team that is committed to achieving company goals.

Examples of conflict resolution skills:

  • Active listening
  • Analytical thinking
  • Communication
  • Empathy
  • Respect
  • Mediating
  • Negotiating
  • Problem-solving
  • Trust-building

How to improve leadership skills

To become a good leader, you have to constantly invest time and effort to improve your existing leadership skills and learn new ones. 

Follow these tips to build better leadership skills:

1. First, learn from successful leaders

Many successful leaders provide tips on how to become great leaders through books, interviews, workshops and courses. You can learn real-life lessons and proven leadership philosophies from these leaders and adapt them to suit your own career.

2. Second, think beyond your job description

If you are currently employed, you should try to go beyond your job description. Leaders have to do more than their regular work duties. Ask your manager for more responsibilities, especially those that allow you to assume a leadership role.

3. Third, practice leadership skills in your free time

Find as many opportunities as you can to practice your leadership skills. You can start a new website or join a local club or charity organization. This is a great way to learn or improve specific leadership skills.

How to list leadership skills on your resume

By properly listing your leadership skills on your resume, you can present yourself as an ideal candidate for the job and distinguish yourself from other applicants. 

Here are a few useful tips for highlighting your leadership skills on your resume:

1. First, include leadership skills mentioned in the job description 

Your potential employer may include a list of required leadership skills in the job description. Mention those skills in your resume to show that you have the specific skills needed to perform the job.

2. Then, quantify the impact of your leadership

By including measurable results along with your leadership skills, you can show the hiring manager the extent of your leadership abilities. This will allow them to have a clearer idea of your potential value to the company.

3. Last, use powerful verbs

Powerful verbs can help you capture the hiring manager’s attention and make a stronger impact. Examples of powerful verbs include ‘spearheaded,’ ‘empowered,’ ‘motivated,’ ‘launched,’ ‘engaged,’ ‘pioneered’ and ‘created.’