Research for the Korn Ferry Research Institute on key leadership traits revealed that managers value certain traits above others, but you need the full range of skills to succeed as a leader in the modern world. So focus on your self-development.

The ability to take the initiative, having a strong business sense, being honest and principled and an unwillingness to give up are all rated among the top leadership skills required for new managers. 

While the following skills were viewed as very important, many managers failed to focus on developing them:

• Building effective teams
• Command skills
• Conflict management
• Decision quality
• People management
• Managing vision and purpose
• Motivating others.

In the Korn Ferry research, self-development, creativity and time management were considered less important, but new managers should be looking to enhance their competency in these areas too.