What are the best ways to improve your leadership skills and get feedback from mentors?

Leadership is a higher order skill. Some are born with it, others develop it. It all begins with self realisation of your current leadership skills and the deficit skills . In my experience, leadership journey begins once you start visualising yourself as a leader, walk and talk like a leader. Once you are in the zone it becomes easier to build additional skills to up your leadership game . Skills where you are found lacking can be embraced through training’s, closely following leadership styles of established Leaders, holistic feedback from various stakeholders , leadership books, working on your mindset and many more . Leadership is a journey which has its own life cycle. With time you add finesse to it.

improving your leadership skills starts from yourself since the very first step is ...your self awareness This stage will define what your current situation is, what's the kind of feedbacks that you have received over time - some you have been able to implement and so you have not. Engaging in both offline and online training programs within and outside of the workplace ecosystem can add tons of value since your leadership skills only begins when you take ownership. Remember, that there are many tools that are available however the real merit is to talk to people both at the peer level as well as your team mate and those who are above you! Leadership and building it's skills is always a journey and one needs to practice the skills!

In order to know identify your strengths and weakness it is always best to look back. Reflection is a powerful and effective way to identify strengths and weakness. Here are the steps I would recommend. 1. Block reflection time?without any distraction 2. Reflect what happened in your career, life in past 2 year, 5 years or years? 3. Go back till as much as early career you can think of? 4. Document the key choices and decisions you have made in your journey 5. Document the time when you have invested in yourself for your growth? 6. Identify a pattern in which you made certain choices and decisions and why you made those decisions. This will provide you inputs on your strengths and areas of improvement.

Leadership means "????? ?? ??? ?????"... which means you should be ready to face challenges, pressure, resource crunch etc....You should have hunger for striving more DAILY, hustle, respect and loyalty....

I believe that enhancing leadership skills starts with a clear understanding of one's strengths and areas for growth. Assessing performance through tools like the Leadership Practices Inventory or StrengthsFinder helps unveil leadership style and values. Seeking feedback from diverse sources, utilizing methods like 360-degree feedback or anonymous surveys, provides valuable insights. This holistic approach empowers setting targeted, attainable goals for continuous leadership development.

Seek out mentors who have excelled in your field or related industries. Establish a rapport with them and initiate a mentorship relationship where you can gain insights, advice, and valuable feedback. Networking within your industry also opens doors to diverse perspectives and experiences. Mention how mentorship and networking help you refine your strategies, learn from others' success stories, and adapt those lessons to your specific role.

In my experience, when you are actively practicing a new skill ask a mentor or a boss to observe you and provide feedback. For this to be effective you must provide the observe with specific things to be looking for. As an example saying, instead of saying “Thank you for agreeing to observe my team meeting today. I appreciate any feedback you have for me.” Try saying this “Thank you for agreeing to observe my team meeting today. I’ve been working on asking more questions to help my team get to solutions versus providing the answers and giving directions. I would appreciate any feedback on how you think I do.” The more specific you are in your ask for feedback the more actionable and relevant the feedback will be.

Adopt a feedback-driven approach to leadership development. Regularly solicit feedback from colleagues, clients, and mentors on your performance. Constructive criticism helps identify areas for improvement that you might not have recognized otherwise. Showcase how applying this principle in your industry allows you to fine-tune your client interactions, streamline your processes, and offer tailored solutions that address the unique needs of each case.

It's essential to invest in continuous learning and training. Attend workshops, seminars, and webinars focused on leadership, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building. By staying updated on industry trends and leadership practices, you can provide better guidance to your clients and inspire your team. As a structured settlement consultant, my leadership skills directly impact my ability to navigate complex financial situations and manage client relationships effectively.

Continuous learning is one key trait which differentiates leaders from others. - Lead by example Human beings have a tendency to influence other people around them. Leaders can do that effectively by setting right examples by practicing continuous learning This action influences other team players to adapt the same behavior This behaviors from leaders create an environment for new ideas and innovation This opens collaboration, when there is collaboration, there is high chance of disruptive Innovation

I firmly believe that continuous improvement of leadership skills stems from an unwavering commitment to learning and growth. In today's ever-evolving landscape, leadership remains dynamic and responsive. Drawing from my experience, adapting to change, updating skills, embracing experimentation, and learning from failures are essential steps. By nurturing curiosity, passion, and humility, one can harness greater leadership potential and make a substantial impact.