Soft Skill #1
The word
savvy
means having common sense and good judgment. It is used
to describe leaders in a couple of ways. A savvy leader is one who is smart,
well-informed, and successful in navigating life. This type of leader is said to
have “street smarts.”
A socially savvy leader is one who has good people skills. That means they like
being with people, and, for the most part, people like being with them. They
are well-mannered and can handle themselves in social situations. Aspiring
young leaders like you can be fun and friendly in the cafeteria. But you also
know how to behave while enjoying a school concert or play.
Successful leaders are both street and socially savvy. Leaders lead people.
People look for positive character traits in their leaders. They respond
well to kindness, honesty, and a good attitude. They listen when a leader
communicates in a friendly, clear, and inclusive way. They accept hard
decisions when they know they can trust a leader to be fair.
Here’s the deal: you can’t be a leader unless other people want to follow you.
A savvy leader is one whom others admire and look up to. This is true for the
adults who lead big companies. It is also true for students who lead clubs,
sports teams, and student government.
Hone
Your
People Skills
•
Make it easy for others to like
you by being kind and friendly.
•
Keep a positive outlook and
encourage others to do the same.
•
Handle conflict fairly and
without playing favorites.
•
Show interest in other people
and their ideas.
SOFT SKILLS SLEUTHS: Investigating Life Skills Success
6
“Leaders must
be close enough to
relate to others, but
far enough ahead
to motivate them.” ―
—John C.
Maxwell
