3 Effective Ways To developing leadership Skills
3 key leadership skills
However, leadership can leave you feeling complacent. And in the business world complacency often leads to stale business practices and across the board mediocrity. Complacency is never good, and yet it can be so easy to slump into it unknowingly. The best way to avoid complacency is to have an attitude that there is always room for improvement.
Here are three applicable attitudes that will help you keep your leadership skill sharp.
- Leadership: An Old Horse Has to Learn New Tricks
The world is constantly changing and inch-by-inch getting smaller. It is important to keep up with the times and to constantly re-educate yourself on best practices in your field. Truth be told, even the most educated leader recognizes that they have room for growth. Encourage co-workers and friends to continue on their lifelong learning journey as well. Who knows? Maybe they will join you for a class or seminar! (Read: 3 Powerful Tools To Create your Life You Truly Want)
Not sure where to start? Consider…
- Taking a class at a local university
- Finding an online or distance education course
- Attending a conference or seminar on a relevant topic
- Asking a co-worker to give you lessons
- Reading updated material in the library or local bookstore (Red: 15 Books That Destroyed My ‘Mediocre’ Life)
- Spending a day learning about another operation in your facility
- Accept Your Losses
Accepting failure is hard- especially in a work environment where it often comes at the cost of money and time. Leaders are often pressed to make hard decisions under pressure and inevitably, at some point, will make mistakes. A good leader accepts failure as part of the growing process. Leaders must not dwell on their past mistakes because it often means they fall into ruts.
Learn how to honestly evaluate your progress and failures. Apologize if necessary. Keep records of items that didn’t work with a possible explanation. Store it on the top shelf of your desk for reference, and then walk away. Don’t let failure make you fearful.(1)
- Adapt Often
Most workplaces will experience their fair share of turnover or changes in any given year. Often those changes can be unsettling or frustrating. However, leadership often means adapting to new situations quickly so that the job can get done. Remember: regardless of situational changes, people are counting on you to properly lead them.
Be prepared to shift roles, educate new employees, work weird hours, or change the focus when your company needs it. Change often means putting others (and the mission of your company) before your own goals and deadlines. In the simplest terms,(2) leadership equates to being able to steer a ship in what seems like a sinkable storm. Are you ready for that challenge?
What have been your greatest leadership challenges? Are there any attitude adjustments that have helped you “weather” the storm?
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