When it comes to a leader receiving a promotion, it’s usually down to excelling in one or more areas of knowledge or skills. It has been noted by many scholars that knowledge leadership and interpersonal leadership are much more effective forms of power when it comes to influencing others. The reason that knowledge leaders are so influential, is down to their success in problem-solving; usually much faster than others.
A knowledge leader will have skills such as:
- The ability to recognise problems faster.
- They can prioritise which problems carry the most importance towards achieving their organisation’s goals.
- They can reframe a problem by shrinking or expanding it.
- The ability to quickly identify the causes of the problems.
- Always providing fact-based pros and cons when solutions are being brainstormed.
Goal direction
In addition to these skills, the most defining characteristic is in fact that they’re able to use their knowledge to help the wider team and organisation to achieve the priority goals. Furthermore, most smart people are unproductive due to their acquisition and handling of knowledge not being directed by a goal.
Ensuring your knowledge is goal-directed is required because knowledge leaders spend a lot of time, acquiring knowledge by reading books, papers articles, taking part in informal discussions etc. They also spend time processing knowledge by making notes, informal papers, diagrams and models. Finally, knowledge leadership involves disseminating knowledge by holding discussions, producing written and published papers and books and holding formal presentations.
If you need help being more of a leader in your business, get in touch with ActionCOACH today.
