While the importance of encouraging cooperation and promoting cross-cultural communication in the context of an organization is a crucial step in leading a team to victory, a leader must also possess conceptual skills. Northouse (2016) defines the subject matter as the ability to use ideas and concepts as building blocks for producing innovative solutions (Northouse, 2016). The specified attitude toward leadership seems especially relevant in the context of the 21st-century environment, where innovation is the driving force behind success. In their article, Rowold and Borgmann (2013) push the envelope even further by coining the term “change champion” (p. 37) and stressing the importance of incorporating change into the very nature of an organization. Therefore, a leader must provide an impetus for change in the environment of an organization; otherwise, no progress can be possible.
Indeed, as my personal experience shows, it is imperative to encourage change in any organization or team so that its members could contribute to its success extensively. For instance, when working part-time as an assistant manager, I was provided with extensive opportunities for attending training sessions for acquiring new competencies and skills, as well as collaborating with the members of other departments. As a result, we shared experiences, which helped me a lot in my further professional growth.
Reinforcing change should be viewed as one of the primary responsibilities of a leader (Bodell, 2014). Without innovations and a focus on a continuous improvement, one will be unable to encourage participants to excel in their performance. Thus, a leader must be able to motivate team members to accept changes and improve their skills.
References
Bodell, L. (2014). Soft skills for the future. T+D, 68(3), 35-38.
Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks: CA: Sage Publications.
Rowold, J., & Borgmann, L. (2013). Are leadership constructs really independent? Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 34(1), 20-43.