Your Unique Gift - As A Leader

Everywhere we look, there are gifts to be discovered. And it’s up to leaders - to help others - find theirs.

This calls to mind a parable once told me.

A ship out in the middle of the ocean was rocked by a fierce storm. Everyone had to abandon ship. After countless days in a small raft, the captain finally stood on the beach of a deserted island, surrounded by 10 wet, cold, and scared people.

The captain reassured them they would be rescued, but in the meantime, the priorities were shelter, fire, and food. As people worked together, the captain climbed a hill above the beach to scan the horizon for signs of a rescue. Instead,?he saw 10 more life rafts riding the tide toward the island. Soon there would be 100 more people on the beach—all of them needing help.

Calling the group together, the captain told them, “I would like each of you to meet one life raft and assist those people for the next few days until we get rescued.”

The group didn’t look happy. “How will we do that?” they asked.

“The same way I did,” the captain said. “Reassure them about their future and help them understand what needs to be done now.”

“So, what will you be doing?” another person asked.

The captain explained: “It’s my job to help each of you become the leader that your team needs.”

Moral of the story: Leadership is not a role, it’s a calling. It’s the gift of lifting others up.?

After all, when they see just how far they’ve come, they appreciate how capable they can become.

It starts by looking within: That’s where we find our gifts.

For an individual, it might be creativity; for an organization, it could be collective genius.?

Once we find them, we then must give our gifts. At the same time, we must continuously grow our gifts.

“Gifts are those things that we are uniquely equipped to give to others. They?may be characteristics, they may be competencies, they may be knowledge …?And when we give them, we make a difference in people’s lives.”

So, what are a leader’s gifts to others? The possibilities are numerous, but let’s unpack a few:

• Time: It’s the one thing we can’t make more of, but it’s the one thing that matters most.

• Elevating the Horizon: Contextualizing can be liberating.

• Encouragement and Recognition: We all want to be seen and heard.

• Empathy: It’s not about you, but it starts with you - by walking in another's shoes.

• Belonging and Believing: Inspiring others to believe and enabling that belief to become reality.

A gift has to be given - for it to be of true value.

Indeed, that’s how - and when - we can get, give, and grow our gifts.

To your success.

What do you think?

Use the comment area below and share your experience or advice on this topic.

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A former Fortune 500 Executive, he has helped BAE SYSTEMS, Eaton, GE Aviation, Smiths PLC, Transdigm address stalled growth, flat-lined revenues, declining profit margins; take a step back to more clearly & confidently navigate complex and rapidly changing markets, intensifying competition - increase clarity and control to reduce the uncertainty and risk around their strategy.

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