As an organization development consultant and leadership coach for over thirty years, I’ve noticed many patterns that really great leaders share. Read on to gauge the extent to which you are incorporating these ideas and practices into your life and work as a leader.
Keep doing the work of learning and becoming better and better
- Many leaders whose careers have continued to elevate are dedicated to self-improvement and continued education. These leaders want to learn more about their industry, their leadership, and their ability to create meaningful impact.
- Ask yourself: What are my goals for improving how I lead? What do I need to learn to be successful?
Know what matters to you and the business
- Leaders who succeed today really understand their business and industry. They are committed to general principles and values that will enable both the business and people connected with it to flourish.
- Ask yourself: How well do I understand the strategic drivers of my business and of the firm? How well do I understand the emerging factors and capabilities that will most influence success in the future?
Engage your network and understand your ecosystem
- Impactful leaders build and nurture their networks both internally and externally. They do this as part of their daily business activities, and not always with a specific end in mind. They aim to curate relationships that will help them navigate the complexity of their worlds, have peers in the industry – as well as advocates and sounding boards – and to understand the larger ecosystem in which they exist and serve. These networks typically bring unanticipated value through the years.
- Ask yourself: Do I make enough time to meet with people inside and outside my organization? Does my network support my future as much as my present?
Give away control
- Leaders who make a difference, and are able to take on more, do so because they are comfortable engaging others in the work, and giving away that work and control to their team and peers. These are essential steps towards building capacity in others and facilitating appropriate levels of leadership.
- Ask yourself: What am I spending time on today that someone else could take on and learn from? What are the very few essential responsibilities I can dedicate my time to, that are truly unique to me and my role/capabilities, and will make a difference?
Develop and share a perspective
- When leading change or leading through difficult times, it is important to have a perspective on what is most needed in your organization and team. Valuable insights and perspectives can emerge and evolve when there is some space or unscheduled time in a leader’s day.
- Ask: Do I have enough time to think? Do I have a point of view that will help shape the future and get people “unstuck”? Can I find ways to share developing ideas, insights, and perspectives, and then engage others to create momentum and energy?
Cultivate a healthy nervous system
- Leaders often have challenging and demanding jobs. Understanding your stress behaviors, triggers, and reactions is essential to being able to manage your nervous system. The best leaders manage their health and nervous systems in ways that allow them to be calm, collected, approachable, and discerning. This leads to better results and stronger relationships – which are essential for getting work done!
- Ask yourself: What is my stress level, and how does it affect me and how I show up with others? What actions do I need to take to allow my nervous system to be in good condition?
If you are ready to put in the work, we can help! At Capacity Group, we focus on helping leaders and teams unleash their full potential. This includes all aspects of leading well (cognitive, physical, emotional, spiritual). If you would like assistance exploring what you need, please get in touch.