7 Effective Leadership Traits That Will Lead You to Success in the Tech Industry

The tech industry is flourishing now more than ever and there is no hitting the brakes when it comes to its rapid growth. It is undeniably one of the most exciting and significant industries to lead and thrive in. However, this kinetic and fast-paced field is no easy feat. You may need more than creativity and innovativeness to constantly make a competitive advantage. 

In today's economic and social conditions, where transformational changes are expected, effective leadership traits are key to your success. 

We've listed down 7 important leadership characteristics you'll need to advance"”not just in the field of technology, but in any industry you aim to thrive in.

Why is effective leadership important, especially in the tech industry?

Changes and sudden shifts in the market and people's living conditions can easily make or break businesses and organizations. Those that have succeeded and adapted prove that effective leadership is significant to survive, thrive, and successfully navigate through the changing times. 

For instance, Gcash, now the country's top finance app, has managed to achieve significant growth in just two years, not to mention in the middle of a crisis. This is thanks to the leadership of their new CEO, Martha Sazon. 

Sazon showed grit, flexibility, and genuine care for her people and their shared purpose. She has led Gcash beyond its limits from the day she embraced her new role. From being a simple e-wallet for fast and secure transactions to offering finance solutions fit for all. To date, aside from cashless transactions, Gcash now allows its users to shop, save, invest, and get insurance coverage"”all within its app. This proves that with an outstanding leader, businesses can thrive no matter the external situations. 

What are the 7 traits of effective leadership?

Are you looking to build a career in the tech industry? Are you a tech or business leader looking for ways to further succeed? Here are 7 effective leadership characteristics to take note of to survive and thrive in this fast-paced world:

1. Compassionate

Technical skills are important in leading in the field of technology but research shows that soft skills such as empathy are just as necessary. Effective leaders know that while a promising and exceptional product, service, or business model can attract brilliant people, it is the culture of compassion and empowerment that builds and retains a team. Below are ways you can create a company culture that nurtures healthy relationships and genuine empathy. 

• Make time to check in with your team. Ask simple questions such as "Are you doing okay? You don't seem like yourself lately?" or "How do you feel about taking on this project? How are you holding up with your current workload?" Taking the time to ask questions or start conversations with your employees helps produce trust and empathy within the team.
• Listen without judgment. True empathy is seeing things from the other person's perspective without imposing your opinions, beliefs, and values. 
• Respect their feelings and take immediate action if necessary. We all go through stress differently, especially because we come from different backgrounds. For instance, yes, some may easily navigate through the changes of working from home with ease. However, some may also find it more challenging with the lack of proper equipment, space, or child-care support. Considering your employees' needs is a significant aspect of showing empathy in the workplace.
• Create programs that help improve your team's overall well-being. Studies have shown that prioritizing your people's well-being is key to having a more motivated and efficient team. 

2. Empowering

Effective leaders focus on their people's strengths and leverage them. Listen and observe intently to know how you can nurture their strengths and passions and help them reach their full potential. Delegate tasks with clear goals and expectations, and when mistakes do happen, mentor them through it. Focusing on what you can learn from mistakes and how you can solve it can foster a culture of growth and resilience.

3. Collaborative

Your team is not with you to simply follow but to work hand in hand towards a shared purpose. As a collaborative leader, keep employee engagement high by involving and empowering your team with equal opportunities to contribute and be accountable.

4. Agile and Adaptive

Studies have shown that to be more effective, tech leaders are now called upon to evolve and instigate change, and cultivate a culture of relationship and growth in the workplace. 

Agile and adaptive leadership is not just limited to how you anticipate and address the changes in the market. Comparatively, how you respond to the needs of your employees is as significant. Your ability to work rapidly, cohesively, smoothly, and continuously amidst changes to stay productive is significant in keeping your business afloat.

Companies have practiced agility and adaptiveness by exploring flexible working hours and remote work so as not to box creative thinking in a routine. Moreover, redeploying and reskilling workers has also been a solution to help employees. With work processes being redesigned and tasks digitized, companies have put a premium on reskilling their employees to keep up. 

5. Resilient

In difficult and uncertain times, your people will look up to you for emotional strength and courage. Effective leaders demonstrate the ability to see failures as minor setbacks. They can also easily lead the team back towards their goals with a positive mindset. Be unfazed in the face of changes and uncertainty. Trust in your team's capabilities, talents, and overall vision and purpose. 

Lead a company that will successfully navigate through change. Read about how Socorro Ramos managed to make The National Bookstore survive for almost 80 years and eventually become a household name.

6. Willing to learn

In this fast-paced world, innovation is crucial to continuing success. It is important to safeguard the future of your career by constantly aiming for growth and leveling up to stay relevant in the workplace. Boosting your skills, or upskilling are effective ways to evolve and constantly stay on top. Upskilling is acquiring more advanced technical or transferable skills that are valuable across jobs. 

Gladly, there are more ways available, and not to mention within reach, to upskill in today's more digitalized world. Here are a few ways to get yourself started:

• Sign up for online courses

From free short online courses to those that come with certificates, online learning is a flexible and accessible way to upskill. 

To kick off, you can start by choosing to further learn about tools and software related to your current role. This will allow you to immediately apply or practice new information that you've learned. Sign up for tech-related courses at FutureLearn, Udemy, or Luna Academy to name a few. 

• Be on the lookout for webinars and podcasts

Edutech Philippines and ESME are just some of the local digital platforms that provide webinars or virtual workshops. 

Podcasts such as Pinoy Tech Club and Pinays Talk Tech can also give you further knowledge on tech-related opportunities.  Consider taking advantage of these webinars to gain new insights and see things from different perspectives. 

• Catch up on your reading

It's no secret that reading can benefit you in more ways than one. One of which is gaining new insights and knowledge on particular topics and keeping up with relevant information. Here are some books to check out:

• Doing Agile Right: Transformation Without Chaos by Darrell K. Rigby, Sarah Elk, and Steve Berez
• Competing in the Age of AI: Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run the World by Kevin Scott, Greg Shaw
• The Future Is Faster Than You Think: How Converging Technologies Are Transforming Business, Industries, and Our Lives by Peter Diamandis, Steven Kotler

7. Future-focused

Tech leaders need to constantly find new ways to move forward. Always be a step ahead and anticipate changes in regulations, customer demands, and technologies then plan ahead.

The digital landscape is a challenging, highly-competitive, and ever-changing industry. Nonetheless, equipped with the right attitude and effective leadership skills, you can lead a tech company to achieve a million possibilities.

Eyeing to jumpstart your career in the tech industry? Then Let's Get To Work!

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