An important part of success in life is the ability to lead. It is important that we are not only able to lead others, but that we are willing to lead ourselves. No one succeeds in life by simply following others. Sometimes we just have to strike a bold new path for ourselves.
Being a good leader is more than simply being at the forefront of the crowd. A leader must act. Too often, we simply accept that someone looks or sounds like a leader and rarely do we actually look at or question their actions.
Therefore, if we want to become good leaders ourselves, we need to concentrate on actions rather than simple appearances. The title of this article refers to eight steps to great leadership, but do not think of these as progressive steps. Instead, think of these as habits, a new routine.
The 8 steps are:-
- Be alert to new potentials. “Reality” is not absolute but rather subject to constant change. Think about inventors, explorers, and agents of social change who have achieved greatness. Some might simply say that certain people are successful because they are lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Maybe so, but if they hadn’t had their eyes open for the opportunity, then it wouldn’t have mattered if they were in the right place or not.
- Accept inspiration from wherever it comes. The wisest leaders constantly study their competition. In war, politics, and business we constantly see examples of this at play, but too often the focus is on finding a weakness to exploit. If you want to a be a leader of positive change don’t fall victim to this trend. Instead, if you find a weakness, make sure to avoid that pitfall yourself. If you find a strength then find a way to strengthen your own qualities to match.
- Be curious, learn something new and promote it in new ways every day. This means you must continually seek to expand your horizons, internally and externally. Feed your mind with new knowledge, and constantly find ways to expand your social horizons. Seek out and meet new people and immerse yourself in new social situations. You never know when these new experiences will help you in your leadership role.
- Look beneath the surface of things, and constantly question. Step off the traditional routes to knowledge. Don’t simply read self-help styled books from bestsellers lists – get involved in your learning. Attend workshops and seminars where there is more room for questioning and debate. Seek out the unconventional thinkers, teachers, and writers.
- Improvise if no existing solutions are available. No excuses. Necessity is the mother of invention. How do you know it won’t work if you’ve never tried it before? Remember, not all approaches need to come from the front. Look at your problem from all sides and systematically attempt different solutions in various combinations. Or, be humble, and ask for help.
- Make at least one person you care about happy every day. Make a point of being thoughtful and caring for at least one person every day and it will soon become a habit. Making someone happy is good for the soul, and of course the world would be a better place all round if we all did a little bit more to spread happiness.
- Be altruistic. Offer help, even if there’s no apparent advantage to you. This means more than making a donation. It means giving of your time and energy and yourself. Sometimes it will mean helping someone you don’t know and sometimes it can be a very personal action.
- Never let negativity be your last word on the subject. If your final words are negative than no matter how hopeful you may be about the potential of a project or action the lasting impression you give to others is one of negativity. Accentuate the positive and you are more likely to see a positive outcome.
So, will following these eight steps help you to become a better leader with a greater chance of leading yourself to a more successful life? Well, why don’t you give them a try and find out for yourself?
If you need a little bit of help and support why not contact MGL on 07500 111388 or meryl@merylgilbert.co.uk for a no obligation chat to find out how we might be able to help you be the leader that you aspire to be, and your business needs you to be.