Unlock Your Leadership Potential: Mastering the Art of Leading in 2025 – Shopify’s Expert Guide

The TV show Ted Lasso tells the story of an American football coach hired to lead an English soccer team. His coaching style seems unconventional at first. Lasso benches a star player whose ego threatens morale, shrugs off press criticism, and bakes biscuits for his skeptical boss. He urges players to support and believe in one another. Despite knowing little about soccer, his relentless optimism and passion inspire his team to greatness.

Ted Lasso is an example of a great leader—entrepreneurs can take a page from his playbook. Leadership qualities like humility, empathy, and encouragement work just as well in the office as on a pitch. Here’s what makes a strong leader and how to develop your leadership skills.

What does it mean to be a leader?

A leader is someone with vision, passion, and the ability to motivate people. They provide guidance and inspiration, and no matter their seniority level within a business’s structure, they set a standard for how people should act and make decisions.

Strong leaders:

• Provide mentorship. Great leaders support lower-level employees by offering guidance and sharing their experience. For instance, a leader might notice a struggling team member and take the time to learn more about their needs and offer advice to help them succeed.

• Encourage employees. Encouragement helps motivate teams. A leader might boost morale by praising an employee who contributes an innovative idea during a meeting.

• Foster a positive environment. Leaders set the tone for workplace culture. Being receptive to feedback or introducing employee-friendly policies like paid wellness leave or company-sponsored education, for example, can create a more welcoming, inclusive environment.

• Share clear goals. Transparency builds trust. Sharing goals with your team promotes internal alignment and helps employees understand how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

• Express appreciation. Leaders regularly acknowledge great work. Showing gratitude and celebrating wins makes employees feel seen and valued.

Why is strong leadership important?

Strong leadership creates a healthy work environment. The right leadership style can have a positive impact on everything from efficiency to morale. An effective leader empowers employees, provides the tools they need to succeed, and nurtures a culture where every team member feels valued. Leadership skills become more important as you move higher up the org chart because upper-level management shapes a company’s overall culture.

While an organization may have an ultimate authority figure—like a founder or CEO—they aren’t the only source of leadership. Individual contributors exhibit leadership skills when they take charge of projects, and managers use leadership skills to guide their teams to meet business goals.

Qualities of a leader

An executive may have impressive business acumen, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to strong leadership. Here are some of the leadership skills and human qualities that great leaders possess:

• Empathy. Demonstrating compassion and understanding helps employees feel valued.

• Integrity. Leaders act with integrity by communicating honestly, treating team members with respect, and demonstrating commitment to their core values.

• Vision. A clear, forward-thinking vision helps leaders make consistent decisions.

• Adaptability. Leaders are nimble decision-makers and comfortable pivoting under shifting circumstances.

• Communication skills. Effective communication is essential for explaining leadership decisions and establishing a shared vision.

• Confidence. A confident leader can inspire employees.

• Reliability. Reliable leaders offer stability and support for employees—even in uncertain times.

• Grace under pressure. Leaders set a strong example by responding calmly to difficult situations.

• Decisiveness. Strong decision-making skills help organizations act quickly and confidently.

• Humility. Leaders don’t seek recognition—they’re happy to share the glory and give credit where it’s due.

🌟Discover wisdom from great leaders and thinkers throughout history.

Leadership vs. management: What’s the difference?

Leadership and management are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing.

In business, management refers to a specific role within an organizational hierarchy. Managers are responsible for overseeing a group of employees, coordinating tasks, and making sure goals are met. A management position is sometimes labeled as a leadership role.

Leadership, on the other hand, is an action or behavior, though there are many ways to define leadership. In general, leaders are individuals with the capacity to inspire others. Every entrepreneur brings a unique style and may have their own personal definition of leadership. Employees at any level of an organization can demonstrate leadership qualities.

How to become a better leader

1. Request feedback
2. Provide feedback
3. Trust your team
4. Be a resource
5. Communicate
6. Set an example
7. Demonstrate flexibility
8. Be a cheerleader

Leaders always look for opportunities to improve. Becoming a better leader means listening to employees, practicing communication skills, and embracing change.

Here are some of the human qualities and skills required to be a strong leader:

Request feedback

Solicit feedback and listen to your employees. Being open to constructive criticism helps you stay aligned with your organization’s changing needs. Employees involved in day-to-day operations often offer valuable insights that can drive growth. Gather feedback through one-to-one meetings or anonymous employee surveys and take the notes to heart.

Provide feedback

Take the time to let your employees know how they’re doing. Recognizing hard work and accomplishments helps team members feel appreciated and can inspire goodwill. Offering constructive criticism can provide opportunities for employees to improve and help keep your organization on track.

Trust your team

Great leaders delegate tasks. Trusting your team to make decisions can help them feel invested in their work. This has the added benefit of building a sense of ownership and engagement. Delegating responsibility also creates space for employees to learn and improve their skills. Micromanagement, on the other hand, can leave employees feeling disempowered.

Be a resource

Being a resource means giving your team the information and tools that they need to achieve success. Encourage them to come to you if they need help, listen to critical concerns, provide solutions, and eliminate roadblocks when necessary.

Communicate

Leaders set goals, make decisions, and chart a plan for growth. Clear communication about these actions helps employees understand how decisions are made and why goals matter. Company-wide meetings and emails are good opportunities to practice transparent communication by updating your team and discussing progress.

Set an example

Effective leaders demonstrate the attitude, work ethic, and behavior they expect from their employees. Leading by example shows your team members how to act. If you model good communication and kindness, it can inspire people to follow suit. An authentic leader sets a strong example by acting with integrity, engaging with fellow employees, and delivering critiques respectfully and privately.

Demonstrate flexibility

Leaders adapt and respond to their circumstances. If, for example, early data suggests a business might not reach its sales goals, a flexible leader could decide to adjust their marketing or product position strategy.

Flexibility, in the form of inclusive leadership, also supports employee well-being. Listening to your team’s concerts and making adjustments to goals or policies shows that you’re listening to feedback. Adjusting your approach based on employee needs can foster a culture of trust. For example, a flexible leader could decide to make an exception to a return-to-office policy for an employee with mobility challenges.

Be a cheerleader

A good leader rallies people and spreads enthusiasm. Expressing excitement and optimism shows a team that their leader has a better vision for the future and the energy to see it through.