We all remember those strong leaders we've encountered in our lives. Their impact lingers because that's the nature of true leadership.
I learned early that the strongest leaders see beyond the immediate need. They see potential. Not just of the worker but of the individual.
Vulnerability is one of those words that immediately stimulate a guttural response. Conjured up is the fortress wall breached. A teeming, angry hoard pouring through full of mal-intent.
It's a word that one typically connects with danger.
Leaders - as most people - are comfortable inside the "known".
Confidence is often assumed to be a prerequisite for success. Paradoxically, it's a lack of confidence that often keeps us from taking the bold steps we need to find success.
As author and coach Rich Litvin states, "Confidence is a result, not a requirement."
Let's think about this for a moment.
Have your thoughts recently wandered to the future and what change in your career might look like? Did you feel that weight lift from your shoulders when you considered a different future? The odds are, you have.
According to a recent Gallop study of almost 200,000 employees, almost two-thirds feel disengaged in their jobs.
The Inner Critic. We all have one. That chattering voice in our head that inhibits our ability to change our situation when we know change is what we really want or need. The one that assures us that we're not good enough.
Do you reserve time in your schedule to reflect on your experiences of the day or week? If you're like most people, probably not. Muscled out by the myriad emotions and pressures we face in everyday life, self-reflection time often gets the director's cut.
Let's be clear. Others' perceptions of you can make or break your chances for a promotion. Why? Because companies promote people based on how they're "perceived". The old saying "perception is reality" is never more true than in these situations.
If you take an honest look at yourself today, how do you think others view you?
"It's not my job to motivate my people. It's my job to create an environment where they can motivate themselves."
This is a comment made by a fellow manager quite a few years ago when my own management experience was yet in its infancy.
Taking on a role as a new leader is quite daunting. The learning curve is steep, and one fraught with emotional ups and downs. Uncertainty is a common state of being. Unlike seasoned leaders who can rely on experience to inform their decision-making, new leaders are venturing into uncharted waters at every turn.