Essential Leadership Skills for “The Apprentice” and the Rest of Us

By now, everyone in the civilized world knows that Bill Rancic outplayed 15 young executives on NBC's wildly popular reality show “The Apprentice” to win a lucrative position in Donald Trump's organization. Rancic's win proved a truth that many experienced leaders already know: surround yourself with the right team of employees in order to get the job done.

Rancic demonstrated the essential strong leadership and communication skills that can help every apprentice—and manager—succeed. AMA has put together the following checklist of essential skills and abilities that will help employees meet any business challenge, on TV, or otherwise.

1. Planning. This is the keystone to success—individually and organizationally. It is a skill that enables managers to complete their own tasks more effectively and, on a broader scale, helps the team to achieve its strategic objectives.

2. Adaptability/Flexibility. If there is a common need in today's businesses, it is the ability to adapt to the ever-increasing pace of change. Whether it's a new competitor, rapid technology advances or simply a rainy day, everyone within a team must be willing to switch directions and prioritize quickly for the good of the organization. This means that they must ensure that not only the changes senior management demands are made, but also that ideas from peers and workers are implemented if they will improve operations. After all, there usually is no single right or best way.

3. Communication Skills. A recent AMA survey confirmed that communications skills are, by far, the key competency required for successful leadership. Whether it is giving instructions to your team, updating a colleague about the state of a project, or expressing a point of view to one's own leader, communication is critical. Too many executives and managers take communication skills for granted. They think they are something that automatically develops as one matures. Not so. They are skills that need to be learned and perfected over time. How one expresses an opinion, advocates for a particular strategy or simply reports on the facts may have more to do with the eventual outcome of a discussion—and your personal success—than the actual substance of the conversation.

4. Conflict Management. Conflict is a natural result of human interaction. Put two or more people together for a significant amount of time in a stressful situation and a difference of opinion is likely to arise. When there is a clash, individuals can become so concerned about having their viewpoint prevail that they cease communicating. Mutual distrust builds and working relationships are threatened.

This isn't to say that some competition and internal tension per se are bad. They can be productive and even motivate those involved to excel, and can generate constructive dialogue from which new ideas are developed and refined. But unresolved conflict can also undermine a sense of teamwork and impede effort.

5. Leadership. Successful leaders have the capability to make things happen. They use vision as a guide for behavior, creating “positive energy” that motivates people to perform at their best. Most importantly, effective leaders earn their employees' respect. Employees will listen to a leader they fear but they will follow a leader they trust and admire—and who treats them with professionalism.

These keystone competencies lay the foundation for business success. As the name of the show implies, the contestants in “The Apprentice” are on a learning curve—like the rest of us in business. We all have a common need for continuous learning as we assume greater responsibilities. Whether we are junior executives or senior staff members, all of us can benefit by continually developing these essential skills and abilities as we advance in our careers. Rancic demonstrated the essential strong leadership and communication skills that can help every apprentice—and manager—succeed.

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