Which Way Should You Go to Grow?

If you are a new and aspiring leader, you must be weighing the direction you want to go. spinning. It feels like at every turn there’s someone with a piece of advice waiting for you.

Model this leader, not that one. Read this book, not that one. Adopt this leadership style, not that one.

The noise that follows you day in and day out is deafening.

So, how should you, the new or aspiring leader assess the volume of advice and information that otherwise well-meaning colleagues and supervisors throw at you?

Why not start on the inside? Gain some clarity by understanding who you are and on the leader you want to be and become. It might also be a clever idea to be clear about the kind of organization and employees you want to lead. Not every leader is for every organization, and not every organization is for every leader.

That does not mean you should dismiss the input or suggestions of others. What’s important is that you evaluate what others throw at you on your principles, values, mindset, and on your perspective on leadership.

If you do, you’ll find it easier to identify a mentor, who to model, what style to adopt, and what to read. Using that approach to launch your leadership career increases the odds that you would be starting on a solid foundation.

Understand though, that leadership is not static, it’s dynamic.

Therefore, you owe it to yourself to be as open-minded as possible. The more open-minded you are, the easier it becomes for you to master the nuances of leadership.