Leaders must commit to lifelong learning. Team Development. Strategic Planning. Culture Positioning. Tips from a book I reviewed.

Skills for the future. What will it take to get to the top? It will take competency,skill, and passion. Competencies and skills are developed through experience. Passion, on the other hand is what is inside of you and drives your interest in developing the skills needed to climb the ladder. Passion can take you from a point of interest to a point of expertise. There are hundreds of different skills that should be taken into consideration as you assess your skill set. There are, however, some common skills that organizations seek in those employees whom they think are capable of getting to the top. The list includes: Team Development - the ability to blend multiple disciplines and experience. Strategic Planning - the ability to create a vision and a road map to get there. Culture Positioning - the ability to create an environment where people from all backgrounds, genders and ethnicity can thrive and add value. Your ability to apply knowledge in a way that adds value to the organization is what they are paying you for. As a leader, it is your responsibility to create a culture that is rich in opportunity for skill enhancement and contribution. Reach the point where your confidence is rooted in the strength of your knowledge. Knowledge is something that no one can take away from you. Analyze Trends - make it a practice to read articles, industry publications, and cutting-edge books on a regular basis. Innovation/Creativity - Innovation and creativity are critical for success in the 21st century. Points Worth Remembering Leaders must commit to lifelong learning. Make it a best practice. Being able to answer the question, "What are you good at?" opens the door to opportunity. If you haven't experienced much failure, either your goals aren't high enough or you're not taking any risks. Sharing tips from a book I reviewed in 2005 by Trudy Bourgeois, Her Corner Office when I was a Business Coach Host - Editor - Writer. The author is a former corporate sales and marketing executive, is founder and president of The Bourgeois company.