3)+Leadership+Skills

**__Effective Communication:__**
An effective leader will demonstrate skill in four important areas: communication, conflict management, decision making and time management. Communication means to send a message to a receiver. It can be done in many forms (ie., reading, & writing) but it is not always received and understood. Most often, the biggest mistake made amongst leaders is ineffective communication. Although perfect communication is not possible, having the knowledge of how to achieve effective communication by expressing your own ideas, active listening to others, and consistent communication, is a step in the right direction.

**__Decision Making__**
Leaders will be faced with many situations where they will have to make a decision. Below is a recommended 5 step model for leaders to follow when faced with making a decision.

**IDEAL model of decision making:**
Step 1: **Identify** or define the problem Step 2: **Discuss** available alternatives for solving the problem. Step 3: **Evaluate** pros and cons of each alternative, and determine the best course of action Step 4: **Act.** It is important to act on the best option. If you do not act, then the problem will not get resolved. Step 5: **Learn**. Reflect on your decision, and learn from the situation for the future.

**__Conflict Management__**
Below are some strategies:

Active Listening: this means you have to do more than just listen to the words of what a person is saying. You have to try and understand what a person is saying and respond by asking questions. You should also make eye contact, show interest in what the person is saying use-paraphrasing if necessary, and **don't** interrupt. Win-Win: Try to meet the needs of both people so that nobody has to compromise. Mediation: this is when a neutral third party (mediator) helps two people to resolve their conflict in a peaceful resolution. Adjudication: when a neutral third party listens to all/both sides of the problem, and then makes a judgment for what should be done based on the information provided. Avoidance: this is a good short-term solution to help the conflict "cool down" but it is not always the best long term solution. At some point the conflict should be dealt with.

**__Time__** **__Management__**
Below are some strategies:

Plan and Prioritize: Prepare "to do" lists: Draw up a schedule: Follow the "80/20" rule: Plan some "downtime": Identify your optimal working time: Minimize distractions: Delegate responsibility to others: Don't procrastinate:

Go to this website and read over this article.Choose some important facts about leadership to discuss with the class/partner. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/rural/facts/94-081.htm