Being a leader is one of the noblest ways to contribute. TRUE leadership is about EMPOWERING people to be their best and reach their potential.
It is both an ART and a SCIENCE, and it takes the right mindset and skillset to be effective.
I’ve coached hundreds of leaders and managers—some who seemed ‘born to be a leader’, and others who struggled and had to learn to be one.
Many of them were promoted into management because they did their JOB really well. Yet, they didn’t thrive in the role of leading others who were doing the job they once did.
Not everyone is a good fit to be a leader of others…and that’s not a bad thing.
Before you take the leap in the direction of leadership, here are a few questions to ask yourself first…
- How much do you enjoy doing the work in your area of expertise or discipline? (as opposed to managing people doing the work)
- What is your motivation for wanting to be a manager? (is it just because of money, title, prestige?—if so, it won’t be sustainable)
- Do you want to learn about human behavior and what it takes to get results through people?
- Do you value relationships, mentoring, coaching, and building others up?
- Are you ok with putting your reputation on the line and your ego aside to “take one for the team” sometimes?
- Are you a visionary? Do you like thinking about possibilities, strategy, new ways of achieving things?
- How self-aware are you? How well do you manage yourself, your triggers? How resilient are you in the face of challenges and setbacks? (if you don’t manage yourself well, you won’t be able to lead others well)
- Are you able to balance giving people constructive feedback with positive reinforcement?
These are just a few questions to help you evaluate whether the role of being a leader is right for you.
Leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Before you take on a leadership role, be sure it is who you want to be and what you truly feel passionate about doing.