From Aspiring to Inspiring: A Practical Guide to Becoming a Leader Worth Following

Dear Tony,?

I want to be a leader someday, but how do I get there???

-Future Leader?

Dear Future Leader,

Being a leader is not an easy vocation in life.? Being a leader means taking people and organizations to places where they wouldn’t go on their own.? Its “leading” others to a better place, better conditions, better performance, and a better life.? To be a leader you have to do more work than the average employee and it involves making decisions, which invite risk and criticism into your life.? In a nutshell, leading is not for everybody because it can be one of the hardest things in life to do.?

But it also provides substantial rewards.? For example, you can positively impact others lives.? You can help your organization become better.? You can take care of customers better than ever.? Your ideas can take root and make the world a better place.??

If you are up for the challenge, being a leader is worth it in my opinion.? But let’s be clear, its not just a title or a position on a hierarchy.? It’s the way you serve others, in particular customers and employees.??

There are 5 areas I would focus on developing if I was just starting out to be a good leader, and then maybe 2 additional suggestions.? The first 5 are from the “Leadership Challenge” by Kouzes & Posner:?

1. Model the Way – live your life with integrity and know your values, and be ready to defend them.
2. Inspire a Shared Vision – Bring everyone together to aim for the same goal, and clarify the vision over and over.?
3. Challenge the Process – Never stop improving, there is always room for continuous improvement.
4. Enable Others to Act – Its not enough to have a vision, you must put in place what employees need to do their life’s finest work.?
5. Encourage the Heart – We are human beings, and we respond to inspiration, motivation, and a leader who cares about us.??

The 2 additional suggestions are from my own experience in leadership over 35 years:?

1. Work Hard – be ready to do the extra work required.? Being intentional about your time and making the best use of it will allow you to do more in every hour.? Avoid the trap of being busy but not productive.??
2. Work/Life balance– as you work hard at being a leader, don’t forget to live a good life and seek fulfillment in the journey.??

Lastly, every leadership role has its unique aspects that speak to the needs of the firm, or the challenges of the day.? Be open to explore these challenges and meet them head on.? Doing this over and over will forge you into the leader you want to be, and along the way you will discover your ultimate potential.

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