I have wanted to be in charge since the day I was born. It’s true. Just ask my poor older brothers who had to put up with taking direction from a toddler. (Let’s just say not much has changed.) There is something innately embedded within me that just comes alive in any situation where leadership is needed.
For this reason and so many others, I was thrilled when I was promoted to my first management position. That excitement quickly dwindled as I realized that even though I was in a leadership position and knew a lot about managing the day-to-day, my team wasn’t necessarily following me. I didn’t get it. I had worked so hard to get myself to this point, so why wasn’t I able to be an effective leader?
The answer is simple: I had much to learn about the non-tangible skills it takes to be someone people want to follow.
Not everyone has the desire to lead, but for those who do, the process of transitioning from okay to good and eventually great can be unclear. The first thing to understand when you take on this kind of role is that leadership is not linear. It can be messy and chaotic, full of dotted lines and gray areas, and oftentimes moves in multiple directions at once. So how do you navigate the complex business of leadership?
It starts with self-awareness.
Do you want to become a better leader but aren’t sure where to begin? Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Understand your leadership style. Defining your own leadership style can be difficult, but you don’t have to do it alone. Assessments are a great place to start, but they are just a jumping-off point for critical reflection. Asking for 360-degree feedback can also be a powerful tool for providing valuable outsider perspective and insight. Once you understand your style, lean into it and fine-tune it.
Identify your strengths and gaps. What’s your leadership superpower? Identifying your unique strengths as a leader can help you understand how and when to lean into them to support you and your team on the road to success. In addition, recognizing your gaps is equally, if not more, important. Doing so allows you to surround yourself with people who can help you fill them.
Know your people. You may know their names, their job titles, and maybe a little bit of personal information about them, but do you really know your people? Work to uncover their basic needs, preferences, priorities, and motivations. Once you really get to know your employees, you can then begin to unlock their true potential. Good leaders develop people; great leaders empower them and get out of their way.
At the end of the day, leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those who are in your charge. So ask yourself, what can you do today to take care of your people?
We strive to equip clients with the knowledge, support, and customized tools needed to gain forward momentum. 
