KEEPING YOUR LEADERSHIP FRESH
“Making a good decision is crucial skill at every level.”
~Peter Drucker
How are you keeping your leadership fresh? It is a question every leader should ask his or her self.
It is easy to do what is comfortable, but what is comfortable will sometimes lead to stale leadership. You want your leadership to be fresh.
What does fresh leadership look like?
Fresh leadership includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Insightful optimism,
- Positive energy,
- Hope,
- Calculated risk-taking,
- Networking,
- Constructive communication,
- Powerful teamwork,
- Exemplary action.
Does your leadership have these attributes? Whether you are the greatest leader or not, there are strategies we should practice to keep our leadership fresh.
As a leader, it is so important to have the knowledge of what to do, how to do, and when to do. This knowledge keeps my leadership fresh. And it can come to me in different ways. I would like to share with you three strategies you can put in place to keep your leadership fresh.
1. Find a mentor.
Who doesn’t need a mentor? Everyone needs of a good mentor. No matter who you are and what you are doing, you will benefit from having a mentor.
All the past and current great leaders of our time had mentors or advisors. These days we call them coaches. There will be times when you will need advice. This is why you will need a mentor, unless you plan on failing to success. Don’t waste time working hard to reinvent the wheel. Talk to someone who knows where you are, where you are going, and how you need to get there.
2. Find a protégé.
Do you know any leaders who need help? Do you know any leaders who are deserving of your help?
We should never try to force our leadership on anyone. Matter of fact, there are some people that aren’t looking to develop themselves. I think that is sad, but it is their prerogative.
The beautiful thing about leadership is that people follow because of your actions. Make no mistake about it; it is about to say the right things. However, we must follow it up with right action. The right words with the right action leads to powerful experiential leadership.
The more knowledge you receive, you should discover ways of helping others with that knowledge. One way you can solidify your legacy as a leader is by taking in a student and training him or her with the leadership skills you have been fortunate to learn. This will help you develop a greater foundation to your leadership and keep your leadership fresh.
3. Befriend a peer.
Do you have any friends doing what you are doing as a leader? You may already have a mentor, but there is nothing like having a friend that is knowledgeable in your area of expertise. A good friend will be honest with you. He or she won’t tell you what you want to hear, but will share what you need to hear.
So, is your leadership fresh?
Looking back at history, it is a fact that good leaders will always find a way to surround themselves with great people. Incorporate these three strategies and watch your leadership stay fresh. People enjoy being around fresh leaders. It will take you and your dreams to the next level.
How are you keeping leadership fresh? Please leave a comment below, send me a tweet on Twitter, or leave a comment on Facebook.