Emmerthal.
Leadership is essential for success, and leadership can be learned — that's the firm conviction of Gert Löhmer, founder and managing director of GL Consulting & Interim. As an interim manager for struggling industrial companies, he knows exactly what makes a good leader. He reveals the ten most important leadership skills here.
Good leaders contribute significantly to a company's success. With core skills such as goal orientation, strong communication, decisiveness, and empathy, they manage to align their company's goals, drive innovative progress, and develop their team — all while consistently leading by example. In an industry like machinery and plant engineering, heavily shaped by technological progress, competition, and global challenges, leadership is therefore of central importance, and the demands placed on leaders are correspondingly high. Anyone who isn't 100% behind their mission and doesn't know what truly matters won't achieve success with their team. “Leadership begins with an inner mindset: anyone who wants to lead must know why,” explains Gert Löhmer, managing director of GL Consulting & Interim. “Without the right motivation, you might reach a leadership position, but you won't become a genuine leader — because leadership is a mindset, not a title.”
“Successful leadership combines clarity, trust, and flexibility. These principles aren't just theory — they're proven methods that make the difference. A leader shapes a strong company culture as the key foundation for business success,” the expert continues. “The good news: leadership can be learned — and it has to be.” Gert Löhmer of GL Consulting & Interim knows what he's talking about: as a naval officer with a degree in mechanical engineering, he was able to build impressive leadership skills and deep knowledge of handling crisis situations from a young age. His later move into business made clear just how valuable his practical experience from the navy was for companies — along with the ability to make decisions under pressure and solve complex problems that came with it. The fact that Gert Löhmer learned leadership in real, critical situations, with honest feedback, is reflected impressively in his broad expertise. Drawing on his experience, he names ten leadership qualities that matter most for machinery and plant engineering companies.
11. Vision and Strategy
Leadership begins with a clear vision: a leader must be able to develop a forward-looking picture for the company and align it with both short- and long-term goals. The next step is to communicate and embed this vision effectively throughout the organization. Strategies developed jointly to achieve these goals boost the motivation of everyone involved and improve the quality of results.
22. Communication
Successful leadership is built on clear, consistent communication at every level of the company. In machinery and plant engineering especially, it's essential that leaders convey complex technical and strategic content in an understandable way. Regular exchange, active listening, and open dialogue prevent misunderstandings and foster a culture of respect. Strong communication builds trust and employee engagement — both in stable times and during periods of change.
33. Empowerment and Trust
An effective leader unlocks the potential of their employees by giving them responsibility and the freedom to make decisions. This empowerment fosters innovation, increases efficiency, and enables fast responses to challenges. Trust is decisive here — it creates a productive work environment and encourages continuous learning, treating mistakes as opportunities to grow.
44. Decision-Making
A successful leader must be able to make well-founded decisions — analyzing complex information, weighing risks, while remaining capable of action in times of uncertainty. Especially in machinery and plant engineering, where mistakes can be costly, decision-making demands both expertise and strong judgment.
55. Teamwork and Collaboration
In the machinery industry, often shaped by large projects and interdisciplinary collaboration, teamwork is essential. Here, it's the leader's task to create an environment where team members are willing to work together, share knowledge, and find solutions jointly. Fostering cross-departmental collaboration is also crucial for developing innovative solutions and achieving higher productivity.
66. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI) is an essential leadership skill, enabling leaders to recognize, understand, and deliberately manage their own emotions as well as those of others. Especially in the technically driven world of machinery engineering, a leader with high EI can play a decisive role in creating a respectful and supportive work environment. They recognize their employees' needs, defuse conflicts early, and foster an open, appreciative company culture. This not only increases employee satisfaction and retention, but also the company's long-term performance. If you want to lead, you have to like people — a positive view of human nature is the fundamental prerequisite for good leadership.
7. Fostering Innovation and Change Management
Innovation is a central driver in machinery engineering, and successful leaders foster a culture that supports creativity and a willingness to take risks. To stay competitive, companies must continually develop new approaches and optimize existing processes. This also means giving employees the freedom to test ideas and experiment without fear of failure. A genuine culture of innovation emerges when even failed attempts are seen as learning opportunities. Leaders play a key role here by showing openness to new technologies and creating an environment where everyone is encouraged to find innovative solutions.
8. Crisis Management
True leadership shows itself in crisis situations, when fast and level-headed action is needed. Whether it's an economic downturn, technological change, or internal challenges like production outages, a leader must be able to stay calm, quickly analyze the situation, and find suitable solutions. Successful crisis management requires not just fast decisions, but also clear communication and the trust of employees. The ability to guide teams safely through difficult times and keep the company on course is crucial for long-term success.
9. Developing Talent
One of the most important tasks of a leader is the systematic development of talent, to secure a pipeline of motivated, qualified people for the future. A good leader creates an environment that fosters continuous learning and allows employees to expand their skills. Alongside transparency and recognizing achievements, this should also include innovative approaches such as virtual teams and hybrid work models.
10. Integrity and Leading by Example
Integrity is the foundation of successful leadership, as it ensures trust, fairness, and transparency. A leader with integrity makes decisions in the best interest of the company and its employees, without putting personal gain or short-term profit first. They act as a role model, shaping the company culture through ethical behavior and consistent standards. In machinery engineering especially, where compliance, safety regulations, and ethical responsibility are essential, integrity strengthens trust and loyalty within the company.
Looking for interim support for the first leadership level at your industrial or machinery company, or already heading toward a crisis you'd like to avoid? Then get in touch now with Gert Löhmer of GL Consulting & Interim, schedule an appointment, and benefit from fast, efficient, and tailored solutions!