Leadership Is More Than A Skill

Leadership Is More Than A Skill Leadership is actually a complex and interconnected set of skills and attributes. So why is everyone dumbing it down?   I challenge any recruiter or employer  to define what they mean by leadership in a job posting. Please, tell me, what are the universal  actions demonstrated by all those with leadership skills?  Some leaders do not manage people, so would they have the same skills? And why would you look for  leadership skills for a non-leadership job?  Do you really think someone with proven leadership abilities wants a job that doesnt really require leadership? Im pretty sure people have written about this before, but let me put it in terms specifically related to job postings (and how most employers stink at writing job postings that are useful, realistic or meaningful). Leadership  In The News Look at studies or research talking about skills gap or skills in-demand and youre likely to find the word leadership in there somewhere. Either listed as a skill or as an attribute, leadership seems to pop up regularly. The Bloomberg Job Skills Report 2016: What Recruiters Want Bloomberg surveys recruiters searching  for MBA talent to figure out what attributes are most valued in managers and how the latest business school graduates compare. What skill appears in the less common, more desired aka sweet spot quadrant? But  let me ask thiswill all MBA candidates seek management roles? Not  everyone wants to be a manager. Should this mean instead, higher level roles in the organization instead of manager? Burning Glass: Human Factor Baseline Skills 2015 Burning Glass, a job market analytics company, provides a much better illustration of baseline skills.  Leadership falls under the bigger umbrella supervision, which makes more sense. Leadership is required of management level jobs across all occupations according to this study. Job Outlook 2016: Attributes Employers Want to See on New College Graduates Resumes NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) released this list  of things employers want to see on new graduate resumes. #1 is leadership. Figure 1: Attributes employers seek on a candidates resume Attribute % of respondents Leadership 80.1% Ability to work in a team 78.9% Communication skills (written) 70.2% Problem-solving skills 70.2% Communication skills (verbal) 68.9% Strong work ethic 68.9% Initiative 65.8% Analytical/quantitative skills 62.7% Flexibility/adaptability 60.9% Technical skills 59.6% Interpersonal skills (relates well to others) 58.4% Computer skills 55.3% Detail-oriented 52.8% Organizational ability 48.4% Friendly/outgoing personality 35.4% Strategic planning skills 26.7% Creativity 23.6% Tactfulness 20.5% Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker 18.6% Source: Job Outlook 2016, National Association of Colleges and Employers To list leadership as #1 is frustrating and unnerving to me. Employers want to see leadership on a new graduate resume, why? No entry-level job will need supervisory  skills. I challenge these employers to select a more precise attribute or to define what they are really looking for. This study by NACE is just one more example of why employers say they cant find the talent they are looking for. Lets get real and force companies to outline specific skills and precise behaviors they are looking for to fill jobs instead of creating lofty wish-lists and crying because they cant find the purple squirrel.