The Primary Skill of Leadership

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other."

John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963),
From a speech prepared for delivery in Dallas
the day of his assassination, November 22, 1963

What would you say is the primary skill of leadership? Decision-making? Innovation? Vision? These are all important abilities that any leader will need. But the primary skill, I believe, without which the others are useless, is the ability to communicate effectively.

The further up the leadership ladder you climb, the more often you will be required to speak. So, it follows that if you want to climb that ladder, you should prepare to speak well, and make as many public speeches as possible.

Or perhaps you have bigger fish to fry than promoting your own business. Perhaps you are committed to a social cause, a political endeavor or a philosophical ideal. Perhaps you attend a church that encourages the laity to participate, or you would like to take a larger part in your children’s education – you’ll find that standing up and speaking out can definitely make a difference. . . in your life and in your world.