What are Linking Skills?
Linking skills are a set of core skills essential for the effective leadership and management of teams. When performed well, linking skills create high-performance by connecting people with tasks. When this happens, teams become focused, productive, motivated, and agile. When there are gaps, however, teams can become misaligned, demotivated, and lack commitment; affecting both performance and productivity.
What is the Linking Skills Profile 360?
The Linking Skills Profile by TMS – also known as the Linking Leader Profile – is a highly-researched multi-rater/360 that reports on 13 skills essential for effective functional leadership and management; at all levels.
As a multi-rater, you can select up to 11 people (raters), from different ‘groups’ to receive feedback from. These groups include your manager, peers and colleagues, and direct reports.
Raters are asked to report on the Linking Skills they currently experience from you, and also what is needed from the role that you perform. The result is an easy-to-understand Linking Skills Report that details what you currently do and what you should be doing, together with suggestions for development. The contrast and comparison between what is currently being experienced vs what is needed enable leaders to pinpoint immediate priorities and actions.
People Linking Skills
Around the outside of the model are 6 people linking skills essential for high-energy team working. These skills need to be demonstrated effectively by the team leader and fostered in every team member.
Active Listening – listening before deciding
Communication – Keeping team members up-to-date on a regular basis
Team Relationships – Encouraging respect, understanding, and trust among team members
Problem Solving & Counselling – Being available and responsive to team member’s problems
Participative Decision Making – Involving team members in the problem solving of key issues
Interface Management – Coordinating & representing team members
Task Linking Skills
The second layer describes the five Task Linking Skills. These are essential to the key tasks of the leader and the more senior team members.
Objectives Setting – Setting achievable targets with the team but always pressing them for improved performance
Quality Standards – Setting an example and agreeing on high-quality standards of work
Work Allocation – Allocating work to people based on their capabilities and preferences
Team Development – Developing balance in their team
Delegation – Delegating work when it is not essential to do it themselves
Leadership Linking Skills
At the very core of the Linking Leader Model are the two Leadership Linking Skills of Motivation and Strategy. Unless the leader has these skills and makes them part of their daily behaviour, the team is unlikely to reach its full potential.
Motivation – Inspiring others to give their best
Strategy – Devising effective action plans to achieve goals
How does it work?
- Complete the check-out process.
- We will be in touch, via the email provided at checkout, within one business day with your joining and next-steps. Please note that this is not an automated system.
- Got questions? Contact us.
Linking Leader 360 with virtual feedback – £399 plus VAT where applicable