A leader is not born.
A leader is created and the whole process starts inside the most dangerous place you’ll ever
encounter – your own mind.
How can you become a strong leader who inspires others, drives people toward excellence,
holds people accountable, and instills a sense of trust? Learning what makes a great leader is
your first step.
Here are some things you can do to become the leader you’ve always wanted to be:
1. Control yourself. Every great leader in history has had to become a master of
self-discipline and willpower in order to stay focused on the big picture. If you don’t
have a goal or the drive to achieve it, you can’t lead others to attain theirs.
• Follow through in everything you do. As challenging as it may be, you need to be
disciplined enough to be where you need to be, when you need to be there, whether
you want to or not. By being strong in your resolve and resisting temptation to give up,
you are setting an example for others to live up to.
• Choose your emotional response to a situation carefully. Sometimes you’ll need
to practice the art of silencing your inner thoughts when they’re not appropriate in
order to set a positive example.
2. Project your goals. If the people you’re leading don’t completely understand the
deeper meaning in their work, they won’t share your vision or work ethic. Every step
of the way, communicate with your team to make sure they’re on the same wavelength
and know what you expect of them.
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• Get your team involved in the planning process and the implementation of your
ideas. This gives everyone a greater sense of ownership toward the end result.
3. Praise highly and criticize constructively. The way you praise and criticize others
can make all the difference in being able to lead effectively.
• Make sure you publicly praise the people who do excellent work for you. You’ll give
the person a sense of accomplishment and the drive to do even better.
• When someone does something wrong, offer constructive criticism and do it
privately. Suggest solutions on how they can improve and take the time to answer any
questions. They’ll accept your input more willingly if they know it’s done to help and
not to harm.
4. Know your people. You can’t truly lead a group of people unless you truly
understand their hopes, dreams, struggles, pains, and goals. All the good intentions in
the world mean nothing unless you have a true sense of the people you’re working
with.
• Talk to your team and get to know them. Getting to know each other on a
personal level will strengthen the bond between you. They’ll want to do better for you
because you’re more than just a “boss.”
• Be their leader, first, and their friend second. You’re their leader and that means
that you have to make difficult decisions from time to time. These decisions cannot be
affected by personal relationships.
5. Make the hard call. There are times when you have to bite the bullet and make
some unpleasant decisions. Firing, demoting, and holding people accountable for their
actions can be very hard at times. As a leader, it’s your responsibility to handle
these matters.
Regardless of where your leadership role takes you, believe that you can be a strong
leader. Remember that in order to lead others, you must be disciplined yourself. After all,
your actions will speak louder than anything you can say.
In order to gain the respect of others, strive to lead by example in every area of your life.
When you follow these simple guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a true
leader!
Tags: business, coaching, Mars Venus