As leaders we have a responsibility to improve, not only towards ourselves, but also towards those we lead.
But what are the behaviors to be implemented to become a leader and improve leadership skills today?
What does a leader look like?
When considering what a good leader looks like, you will find a wealth of books, articles, websites, and opinions. I think about these puzzle pieces and I want to challenge you to build this puzzle for yourself, and that it is relevant to your context.
On leadership I recommend that you listen to episode number 9 of my podcast where I tell you about how to improve leadership.
To define what a great leader looks like, start by listing the skills (no more than 5-8) in each of the categories that you feel are critical to being an effective and impactful leader in your business or industry.
Consider how a good leader moves and what skills are needed for effective self-management. Learning to manage yourself is one of the most important things you will ever do as a leader. Examples may include: emotional intelligence, humility, resilience.
As a leader you need skills that allow you to deal with the people who work for you or for you. Examples may include: interpersonal sensitivity, conflict management, customer orientation etc.
Finally, consider what skills are most important when running a business where your role as a leader is to imagine, lead and achieve sustainable results. Examples may include: creating a vision, planning, decision making, strategy execution.
I have summarized the 5 most important steps to become a leader
1. Define what kind of leader you want to be
First, it is important to define who you want to be. If you don't know what you're working towards, you won't have a context for becoming a better leader. Consider the following quotes:
Whoever thinks he is leading others and has no one following him is just taking a walk.
John Maxwell
There are three types of leaders. The ones that tell you what to do. Those who let you do what you want. And the “lean” leaders who come to you and help you find out what to do.
John ShookPeople can't be managed. Inventories can be managed, but people need to be guided
Ross PerrotOnce you have built your leadership model, make sure you are able to clearly define the skills needed. Also identify behavioral indicators that will help you determine your level of proficiency.
2. Evaluate your skills
Carefully examine each competency and rate yourself on a scale like:
- I still have to work on it
- I'm almost there
- I have learned this skill
- I am an expert and I can train someone
You can also ask those who work closely with you to give you their opinion.
3. Create your personal development plan
Consider the results of your assessment and create a written personal development plan for yourself by asking the following questions: “What would I like to improve on? "What am I going to do to improve?" "By when?" "Who will help me?"
Engage in an area you want to improve - this will allow you to focus on one goal at a time, and is more realistic and achievable in the chaos of your daily life.
4. Find a mentor, a coach
There are many benefits to partnering with a coach on your development path. In my personal experience, I have found it helpful to have a responsible partner who allowed me to stay focused on my goals; someone who questioned my way of thinking and encouraged me with their experiences and insights. Make sure you find an accredited and suitable coach, and remember this is not a one-time discussion - this is someone you need to see regularly.
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5. Make habits
Committing to a fixed schedule each week (even if just for an hour or two) helps keep the momentum going. If you don't create this rhythm for yourself, pressing everyday matters will take priority, and before you know it, it will be a month since you last actively invested or thought about areas you would like to improve on. From time to time reevaluate how you are doing things and update or adapt them to your personal development plan.
Which skills would you consider critical to your business or industry in each of these categories? Share your views.
