Effective leadership has always been challenging, but remote work adds another layer of complexity. Balancing professional responsibilities with home life requires managers to refine their skills and adapt their approach. A recent survey highlights the top five leadership competencies that managers often struggle with—and how to strengthen them.

1. Team Building: Strength in Awareness

Even high-performing teams can buckle under pressure. Understanding your team’s natural workplace habits is key:

• Who takes charge in stressful situations?
• Who prefers to listen and implement?

Encouraging behavioral awareness allows team members to play to their strengths while addressing weaknesses, creating a resilient and adaptable group.

2. Providing Effective Feedback

Feedback loops are the foundation of team development, yet many managers hesitate to provide timely and specific input.

• Celebrate successes to reinforce positive behaviors.
• Reframe missteps as learning opportunities rather than failures.

Constructive feedback helps employees grow while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

3. Mastering Time Management

Poor time management creates bottlenecks for direct reports who rely on leadership’s input to move forward.

• Prioritize tasks that directly impact progress.
• Set clear deadlines and expectations to minimize delays.

Strong time management keeps teams efficient and ensures decisions don’t stall workflows.

4. The Art of Delegation

Holding onto too many tasks limits productivity. To prevent bottlenecks:

• Assign responsibilities based on expertise and strengths.
• Focus on empowering your team to make decisions.

Delegation allows leaders to concentrate on strategy while ensuring their teams work smarter, not harder.

5. Strengthening Communication

Managers must be accessible and proactive in their interactions.

• Encourage open dialogue and ensure team members feel heard.
• Schedule regular one-on-one meetings to provide guidance and support.

A well-connected team fosters trust, engagement, and a shared commitment to success.

Leadership isn’t about doing more—it’s about leading better.

^{_{Source: Inc. | Image: The Enterprisers Project}}