The recession is now an economic and statistical reality. With large recruitment departments shrinking and some even making redundancies, career prospects have never looked so bleak in the corporate world.

This is why Leadership is becoming such an important skill for job seekers to have. Leadership is the key driving force that keeps businesses alive and sometimes profitable during economic turmoil. Great leaders increase motivation of workers, encourage the free flow of ideas, and improve the atmosphere of working environments. The effect of a phenomenal business leader can be felt from shop floor workers up to the board. It’s an incredibly desirable trait in any employee. So here are 3 ways to boost your leadership skills for a potential employer.

1. Take opportunities to lead teams. Leadership isn’t a characteristic you can simply claim to have, and hope nobody will call your bluff. It is such a self-evident trait, that a veteran interviewer will be able to smell it on you when you walk through the door. You need to gain experience as a leader, so grab every opportunity you can to direct, coach and lead teams in your organisation or in local clubs and societies. I suggest you have 5 varied experiences to talk about confidently with an interviewer, where you can show you demonstrated the skill of leadership.

2. Read leadership literature and invest in yourself. All excellent transformational leaders regularly invest in themselves. Leaders have often sought out useful leadership books and learning material that will help them along the path to happiness and leadership. These days, many e-courses tend to be rather disappointing, but one e-course that is still respected by leadership professionals such as myself is The 11 Forgotten Laws. It’s generally seen as an essential and core ‘crash course’ in the laws and secrets you need to know to further your leadership & career and even help find happiness in other areas of your life. Its an excellent base upon which you can build your personal development.

3. Just say yes. More often than not, people take the safe option and say ‘no’ to choices that perhaps seem to carry mediocre benefits and at the same time, plenty of risk of embarrassment or humiliation. What also is often the case however, is that these people are actually instantly sensing the risk, and then not bothering to really look for the bonuses that could come from completing such a task. Next time you’re presented with a public speaking opportunity for instance, or a chance to organise a charity event within the office. For your career’s sake, say yes. The benefits to your CV will more than justify the risk of embarrassment.

So there you have it. If you make sure you incorporate these 3 tips into your working life, you will boost your leadership skills and be able to present these effortlessly to an impressed employer. I wish you every success in your future career.