Learning to Lead

In our last post, we discussed why so many people who are promoted into leadership positions fail to actually lead. One of the big reasons is simply that they don’t know how to lead. And no one shows them. The vast vast majority of people in leadership positions never receive even one minute of formal leadership training.

So I suggested that if you find yourself with the opportunity to lead, you shouldn’t wait for your company, organization, or anyone else to teach you to lead. You should take the initiative and learn to lead on your own.

I received a bunch of feedback from people telling me that they couldn’t do that. In fact, they said there was nothing they could do. They were doomed to muddle through the best they could.

So let’s get something clear right from the start. There is ALWAYS something you can do. No matter what situation you find yourself in, no matter how you got there, no matter if you put yourself into that situation or you were put there by someone else, there is ALWAYS something you can do.

There is probably no more limiting belief in life than the belief that you are powerless over any situation in your life. If you buy into that belief, you will be unlikely to ever live your best life or come close to reaching your full potential.

You may need some help, it’s likely in fact. You could benefit from a mentor, coach, or close friend to help you strategize your way through whatever situation you’re dealing with. But never lose sight of this amazing truth: there is ALWAYS something YOU can do.

So, what does that something look like when it comes to learning to lead? That’s an interesting question because neither I nor anyone else can teach you to lead. I can share with you the characteristics of an Authentic Leader, I can offer ideas on how to develop those characteristics for yourself. I can even advise on more effective human relations approaches for dealing with people. But I can’t actually teach someone how to lead.

Using their own personality and skills, they must teach themselves the most effective way to lead others.

That will involve developing a range of people skills, characteristics, and attitudes. Here are some ideas to help you on this journey towards Authentic Leadership.

1. Self-Awareness and Self-Improvement

• Assess Strengths and Weaknesses: Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses is crucial. Tools such as personality tests, 360-degree feedback, and self-reflection can be helpful. Being 100% honest with yourself is vital here.

• Set Personal Goals: Identify areas for improvement and set specific, measurable goals to work on. Then work on them EVERY SINGLE DAY.

• Seek Feedback: Regularly ask for feedback from peers, mentors, and team members to understand how you can improve. Don’t be even a little defensive when accepting this feedback. If you’ve asked the right people, they’re legitimately trying to help you.

2. Learning and Development

• Education and Training: Take courses in leadership, management, communication, and other relevant areas. Online platforms, universities, and workshops offer valuable resources.

• Read Widely: Read books, articles, and case studies on leadership to learn from others’ experiences. Read constantly, read consistently, and never stop reading.

• Learn from Leaders: Study the behaviors and strategies of successful leaders in your field. Authentic Leaders lead by example; one of the best ways to teach yourself to lead is to closely watch those who already lead authentically.

3. Practical Experience

• Take on Leadership Roles: Seek out opportunities to lead, whether in your job, community, or other activities. Volunteer for projects or committees where you can practice leadership skills. Leadership is a skill that’s learned by doing, so do.

• Start Small: Begin with smaller leadership roles and gradually take on more responsibility as you build confidence and competence.

• Reflect on Experiences: After leading a project or team, reflect on what went well and what could be improved. Doing a “debrief” with yourself and a mentor or coach is crucial to self-improvement.

4. Develop Key Skills

• Communication: Work on both verbal and written communication. Effective leaders are good listeners and clear communicators.

• Decision-Making: Practice making decisions, both small and large, and learn to weigh the pros and cons effectively.

• Conflict Resolution: Learn techniques for resolving conflicts and managing difficult conversations.

• Emotional Intelligence: Develop the ability to understand and manage your own emotions and those of others. As I’ve said thousands of times, leadership is about people. People, including you, are emotional. To master leadership, you must master your emotions.

5. Building Relationships

• Networking: Build a strong network of contacts within and outside your organization. Networking can provide support, advice, and opportunities.

• Mentorship: Seek out mentors who can provide guidance and support. Being a mentor to others can also develop your leadership skills.

• Team Building: Learn how to build and maintain high-performing teams. This includes understanding team dynamics and fostering a collaborative environment.

6. Demonstrating Leadership

• Lead by Example: Model the behavior you expect from others. Integrity, accountability, and a strong work ethic are essential.

• Empower Others: Encourage and support team members to take the initiative and develop their own leadership skills. You don’t have to be at the top of your organization to begin the process of building more leaders. Start where you are and begin with whatever skills you possess today.

• Adaptability: Be open to change and willing to adapt your leadership style to different situations and team needs. No two people are truly identical. You’ll need to make adjustments early and often if you’re going to succeed as a leader.

7. Continuous Improvement

• Stay Informed: Keep up with trends and developments in your industry and in leadership practices.

• Adapt and Evolve: Be willing to change and improve your leadership approach based on new insights and feedback. Becoming an Authentic Leader is a journey. The moment you think you’re good enough, you’re no longer good enough. The moment you think you’ve arrived, you’ve missed the boat. Never never never stop evolving because when it comes to leadership, the last thing you want to be is good enough.

If it sounds like Authentic Leadership requires a lot of effort, you are correct. It absolutely does. But the rewards are beyond incredible. Helping someone is great. But, helping them become a leader means you’re also helping them help another person, someone you may never know. That’s phenomenal!

So I highly encourage you to make the effort. You will never regret that you did.