In the past, leaders generally knew they were invested with formal authority. As such, their directives carried organizational weight. Today's organizations are flatter and less hierarchical. Many leaders now do not have formal authority and, even if they do, find it is not particularly useful. Instead, they recognize that leading requires the mastery of certain skills, all of which can be learned and developed.

Successful leadership requires strong:

• Communication skills: To speak and write persuasively
• Interpersonal skills: To listen and hear what people are saying and react in constructive ways (active listening)
• Conflict-resolution skills: To handle friction and inevitable tensions
• Negotiation skills: To bring different groups together in order to reach mutually agreeable goals
• Motivational skills: To align people who may not report to you toward a goal