One of the most misunderstood notions in the corporate world is that a person is a born leader. This leads to yet another commonly held myth among management folks, who categorize their team members as either “Leadership Material” or “Not Leadership Material.” The team is here to bust this myth! But before we do that, let us first understand what we mean by Leadership Skills or what traits leaders clearly exhibit-
1) Humility :
“Leadership is a series of behaviors rather than a role for Heroes.”
True Leaders are humble individuals who put the needs of others ahead of their own. They are self-aware that they are no better than the person next to them or across from them. Sometimes known as modest leaders, humble Leaders make everyone feel special.
2) Empathy :
They know how to get things done through people. Empathy is the ability to mentally identify with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of others. True leaders exhibit empathy by getting to know and understanding the people they work with.
3) Vision:
“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus, but a molder of consensus” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Leaders are able to see things that others don’t see or see before others do. People with vision can sometimes see the endgame before it even begins. The art of getting others to see the vision and gain their buy-in is something that leaders must work on constantly, because it’s not just about the end game. It’s about maintaining harmony within the teams while guiding and directing them to where they need to go.
4) Risk-taking:
They are comfortable being out front and charting new territory for everyone to follow. The leaders are prepared to accept both the good and bad outcomes that may occur while maintaining their team’s morale.
If we were to chart people’s Leadership capability like a bell curve, it would be exciting to observe that born leaders occupy only the top part of the curve – they are very good at leading people. With experience, they tend to become even more adept at it.
However, the vast majority of people lie in the big middle of the curve. That’s where Leaders Get Made! And that’s where we can get our motivation to develop our leadership skills. Most people who start with a bit of innate leadership capability can actually become excellent, even great leaders.
Would you like to start that journey NOW? Great, let’s Get Going then-
1st Step: Become Truly Self-Aware!
This is your biggest secret weapon for evolving into a great leader. We definitely don’t mean self-involved! Becoming genuinely self-aware means observing every day an accurate sense of how the world views you and what motivates you. For example, assessing your actual strengths and weaknesses as a leader and as a person frequently. What kind of influence do you have on others?
2nd Step Step out & observe!
It is very easy for any individual to deal with another person or situation from their point of view or perspective. More often than not, observe these dynamics by stepping out of the “I “one and viewing it in the third person. It is not as difficult as it sounds. With just a little bonsai practicing and brain rewiring, you should be on your way to laughing it off as you watch the drama in your life unfold before your eyes.
3rd Step
Be open and invite feedback! It is an art to handle “genuine “input from others. True leaders, in their humility, learn the knack of receiving feedback with a smile on their face, a wit in their conversation, and zeal in their temperament. Life is all about growing and evolving for them, and they use every opportunity possible to help them in their journey of becoming Great Leaders.
It would do companies a great deal of good if more people changed their perception of The Art of Leading. After all, “L” leadership is not a skill. It is a process that must be worked on daily to become a better leader.
“Do not let anyone inhibit your journey to becoming a successful leader! Charter your Journey NOW!
Keep Leading & Keep Trending!
