Leadership is more about what you’re doing today than it is about what you did yesterday.
You may have done lots of great things yesterday that helped you earn your leadership position. Having a leadership position however does not make you a leader. Even being a great leader yesterday does not ensure you’re a great leader today.
You never “arrive” as a leader because the leadership journey never stops. Great leaders know that since their people are always evolving that they must evolve as well. They are constantly learning, always growing and perpetually looking for new ways to help their people succeed.
No matter how effective you may have been yesterday if you’re not trying to be better today then your ability to lead will quickly fail you…and your people.
We can talk forever about the characteristics of a leader but merely having some or even all of those characteristics does not make you a leader. It’s putting those characteristics to work, actually DOING something with them that makes you a leader.
When you demonstrate that you care about your people, that’s doing.
When you model the behavior you want and need from your people, that’s doing.
When you cast the vision for your organization and people, that’s doing.
When you make the tough decisions that others are afraid to make, that’s doing.
When you’re willing to risk a confrontation to resolve issues and help people grow, that’s doing too!
What you did in the past may have earned you a leadership position but what you do today and tomorrow will determine if you’re really a leader. A leadership position is not someplace you go to rest on your laurels, it’s a place that you go to build upon them.
If you were to go on trial this week, charged with being a leader, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
If you’re answer is anything other than an absolute yes then perhaps you’re a little short in the area of doing. The good news is, building a case for your leadership ability is completely within your control.
The only question is, will you DO anything about it?