How to Be a Great Leader
We all have great ideas and the ability to improve the world around us.
Traditional advice says you need a title to have significant influence. However, not everyone wants to take on leadership roles like being a manager, coordinator, team leader, etc.
Here at Science of People, we believe that people have the power to inspire change by becoming leaders in their everyday lives.
This month we choose The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell as our book club book to learn what it takes to be an effective leader (in and out of the office) from one of the world’s top leadership experts.
Here are are our top 10 ways to be a great leader:
#1 Law of the Lid
Ever wonder why some leaders are so much more successful at driving results than others? That’s because a leader’s influence is limited by their skills. The stronger their leadership skills, the greater their ability to help their teams accomplish goals.
Makes sense right? But, what if you don’t have strong leadership abilities? A lot of people think that you have to be born a leader but luckily science shows that’s not true. According to the University of Illinois, leadership is based 30% on genetics and 70% on acquired skills and experiences. This proves that the Law of the Lid is not fixed–your limits raise along with your personal development.
Action Step: Invest more time in developing your leadership skills so you can increase your influence.
#2 Law of Influence
If I asked you to define a leader, what would you say? If you’re like most people, you’d probably mention people like managers, politicians or maybe even trendsetters. Maxwell argues that all of the labels to determine who’s a leader and who’s not are wrong. He believes that a leader is someone who influences others. It’s that simple.
I love his definition because of all of the possibility it holds. You don’t have to rise to the top of a company, have a huge following on social media or lead a movement to be a leader. Everyone has the potential to lead because all you have to do isinfluence people about the things you’re passionate about.
For example, you can teach your friends how to be healthier or use your professional skills to improve programs in your community. Your opportunities to lead are endless.
Action Step: Look for small areas in your life where you can become a leader by influencing others.
#3 Law of Process
Just like how the University of Illinois reported that 70% of leadership skills are acquired, Maxwell believes that leaders must be constantly engaged in a learning process in order to remain relevant and effective.
The key is to always have an area of improvement that you’re working on, whether it’s boosting your team’s morale or making yourself a better communicator. This shows people that, just as you demand growth and results from them, you demand the same from yourself.
Action Step: Identify areas of growth for yourself and begin the process of learning how to improve.
#4 Law of Solid Ground (Trust)
When Gallup asked over 10,000 adults to describe the leader who had the most positive impact on their lives, trust emerged as one of the top four responses. We know what it means to trust someone, but what separates trustworthy leaders from untrustworthy ones?
According to Maxwell, trust comes down to one simple trait: consistency of character. The most trustworthy leaders are the ones who never waver from their values and who people can depend on to act in the team’s best interest.
Action Step: Start earning your people’s trust by being more consistent and acting according to your team’s values instead of your own agenda.