You would be able to gain cooperation for your initiatives, build rapport easily, and lead people instead of manage them. You also would be highly valued as an employee and for better, more responsible positions.

Now, I'm not saying this secret reveals the only leadership skill you will ever need. But it is atop my list of leadership success factors. It will come as no surprise to you that I'm talking about effective communications skills.

I believe being able to deliver your ideas in a lucid and compelling manner is by far the most critical leadership skill you can ever possess, whether you are leading in business or in personal situations.

Poor communication skills send many promising people in the highly competitive workplace to the career sidelines. In personal affairs, if you can't communicate effectively, you miss out on the richness and depth of human relationships.

I've said it many times over the years and still believe it today: effective communication is a million-dollar skill, a path to a richer, more rewarding life. It's a get-along-with-others skill, a job security skill, a get-that-raise skill, a negotiation skill, a sales skill, a money skill and a power skill.

The best and the brightest without effective communication skills may advance, but they will never truly lead. In the business world, the path to leadership is paved by ideas effectively delivered.