I Can: Acquire new insights into becoming more effective as a leader. Apply them to your work and life. Practice until mastered. Continue the process indefinitely.
Developing more effective leadership is a hugely broad subject and so is the I Can answer. That answer is probably not a good one although the process steps are valid.
I Can't: Because developing more effective leadership is so general, it is necessary to break it down into its basic components and work with those. Those components include the acquisition of knowledge, developing new insights, changing how you think and what you do, and practicing until mastery is achieved.
Acquisition of Knowledge: The conscious and deliberate quest of knowledge about all aspects of leadership is essential. Knowledge is the great separator between the mediocre and the exceptional.
I'll mention a few of the hundreds of areas where in-depth knowledge is important: speaking, listening, dialoguing, exercising, eating, dressing, supervising, motivating, writing, reading, working, technical area of expertise, psychology, selling, negotiating, and the list continues.
How do you get this knowledge - reading books and magazines, listening to educational CDs, watching educational Videos or TV, asking questions, interviewing experts at lunch, observing people and reflecting on your experiences.
Developing Insights: In the acquisition of knowledge, you will find certain pieces of information that will catch your attention and develop an ah-ha experience. You come to realize that what struck you could be valuable information for you in particular.
Don't neglect these insights but record them in an Insight Log. If you don't, what will happen? You will forget each insight and they all becomes worthless.
Changing How You Think: Application of your insights to your work and life is the action that begins to develop more effective leadership. Applying what you learn and your insights to how you think is critical to making the changes you seek. Only if you change your thinking and beliefs will your behaviors change. Changing your behaviors is essential to developing more effective leadership.
Changing What You Do: As your thinking and beliefs change, so will what you do. You will find yourself engaged in new more effective actions at work and in your life. Your new actions and behaviors will be directly linked to getting new results and will be recognized as exercising more effective leadership. Insight without application is only entertainment! You want more than entertainment, don't you?
Practice until Mastered: Practicing the thoughts, actions, and behaviors that bring you more effective results will lead to developing more effective leadership skills, competencies, and attitudes.
This process is actually easy. It is a daily endeavor and includes baby steps. Today, acquire knowledge until you develop one clear insight into how you could improve your work and life. Apply that insight to your thinking and actions today and for at least 21 days (track performing your daily application).
Watch as you develop another effective skill to add to your collections of leadership skills. Observe and celebrate the new results that you will receive from developing more effective leadership skills.
Continue this process until you die. I guarantee that you will have an unbelievable rewarding life from the results you will generate with this daily practice.
There's a big difference between just being a team leader, and leading so that people will willingly want to follow you. The real leadership test is influence. For example, what if you were employed with a volunteer organization, and your employees' livelihoods, perks and benefits were not based on whether or not they did what you asked? Would they still do as you say? Do you think they admire, respect and trust you as a role model, mentor and team leader?
Leadership Test: Below are 22 questions to ask yourself about how you are performing as a leader. Do you demonstrate honesty, credibility and competence? You may also want to pass this leadership assessment on to your team. How well are they performing compared with other team members? Consider using this leadership test in performance reviews and for discussions in meetings.
1. As a team leader, how do I show that I am honest? Do I do what I say I am going to do?
2. Do I make competence, character and credibility priorities? How?
3. Do I listen effectively to others with an open mind even when I may disagree?
4. How do I demonstrate honest yet tactful communication with team members?
5. Do I demonstrate good people skills, or effective leadership skills with my team?
6. How am I thoughtful and considerate of others in the department?
7. How do I demonstrate my vision and the organization's vision in a way that others clearly can understand?
8. Do employees see how this vision applies to them and to the big picture?
9. Do I understand my own goals and how they tie in with organizational goals?
10. Are the company goals and my individual goals specific, measurable and in writing?
11. How do I take responsibility for my own job?
12. Am I proactive in taking on or looking for additional responsibility?
13. How do I tactfully suggest better ways of doing things?
14. How do I offer ideas for improvement without putting others on the defensive?
15. Do I show up on time for work and begin work immediately in a way that contributes to the team?
16. Am I alert and "mentally" present for work?
17. How do I work to promote better morale with my team and other departments?
18. How would I grade the overall quality of my work?
19. Do I complete assignments on time and without being negative?
20. How do I put forth my best in producing a product or service in which others can take pride?
21. Have I received leadership training in the area of conflict resolution?
22. Am I open to leadership training in the areas of personal and professional development? If I've received this type of training, am I applying the skills learned?
Go back and reread the first five questions of this leadership test. As a team leader or manager, how are you demonstrating character, honesty, and credibility? I've found that in conducting leadership training worldwide, these are key characteristics employees want to see for them to willingly WANT to follow their leader. Were you able to answer "yes" to most of the questions? How would other team leaders in your organization score?
Remember, if people know they can trust you, they'll follow you.
"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without strategy." General H. Norman Schwarzkopf
Both Joe Farcht & Colleen Kettenhofen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Joe Farcht has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Leadership and Loans for Home Improvement. Joe Farcht is the founder and president of Leadership Advantage, Inc. His purpose for living is to develop and coach leaders, executives, managers, and supervisors to new levels of performance and success in their work and life. He is the author of the. Joe Farcht's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Colleen Kettenhofen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Difficult people and Leadership. Colleen Kettenhofen is a motivational speaker, workplace expert, and co-author of "The Masters of Success," as featured on the Today Show, along with Ken Blanchard and Jack Canfield. She has spoken in 47 states and 6 countries. Popular topics: difficult p. Colleen Kettenhofen's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.