Being a Leader is not a commodity; it shouldn’t be something seen as transactional, more as an organic way of being and action from such a place, from inside yourself – rooted in your values and aware of the surroundings.
Odd? Perhaps, you’ve never seen yourself from this perspective: did you? – do this exercise and share your discoveries/insights.
I’m not philosophical, but rather ‘shaking the waters’ in your comfort zone and making you think about the way you do things and act towards others – that’s my goal; ‘put the hands in the dirt’; be practical.
Maybe you have all the characteristics suitable to lead people – don’t get me wrong, perhaps you do -; nevertheless, follow along these topics and find where you are at:
1. Do you lead people based on fear or communication?
Team members who have that kind of leader are not usually as engaged, productive, and united as if they’d have a bilateral communication channel too. From their leaders – two-way communication is paramount.
2. Do you come from a place of reactiveness?
Leaders that react immediately and don’t give themselves time to ponder the issues are far worse decision-makers; most don’t consider the diversity of factors that directly contribute to the decision – people involved, company culture, and consequences.
3. Are you conscious when you make a decision?
When you decide, what makes you get there; What are the things that made you come to the conclusion of choosing X instead of Z?
If you’re ‘hot-headed’ or in a place where you’re too stressed, you should ground yourself – do a few deep breaths -, rethink, and consider all the possible options before coming to your final decision – don’t be hasty; recognize people as human beings and not things.
4. Do you feel overwhelmed?
Well, if you feel this way, you’d better prioritize and be able to delegate. Many leaders struggle with this; delegating seems quite daunting, but in the end, it’s just a way of improving your ability to deal with multiple things happening in your work life and be able to trust people’s work – they’ll appreciate it; your team will get far more united.
5. Your team members are as human as you, right?
When interacting with your team members, how do you do it; what are your actions like? Are you able to provide a safe environment where everyone feels at ease contributing? Do you hear everyone’s ideas? Do people feel empowered?
These questions are just a way for you to be conscious of your actions and their consequences and be aware of how they impact your team members’ lives.
Long gone are the days when being a leader, without considering your environment, culture, and the perception of your team as people that they are, didn’t have permanent negative consequences. Practice these five principles each day – see them as cornerstones, a compass that leads you in your daily life.
Be conscious, and aware; be a real leader.
