Leadership is an art, and it’s an art that anyone can learn for the most part. Just because someone learns an art doesn’t mean they will be good or effective. Just think about all of the painters, musicians, communicators, or artists of any sort; although they have learned an art, very few get through the threshold from simply being an artist to being an effective artist. That same statement is true for the art of leadership…there are many leaders who never become effective leaders.
Here Are 6 Steps to Become an Effective Leader:
1. Recognize
Recognize that leadership is a gift, an art, a craft…that has to be continually developed. Seek out and be willing to learn from effective leaders who have developed this craft we call leadership.
2. Realize
Realize the fact that although leadership is a craft, it is not rocket science. STOP MAKING IT SO DIFFICULT. I repeat, unless you are a leader at NASA, your leadership role is not rocket science; chill-out and quit making things so hard on yourself and others. BTW- If you are a leader at NASA or a rocket scientist, you should probably be asking the tough question: “Is what we do still necessary or relevant?”
3. Remember
Remember The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you!” Most leaders barely remember the bronze rule, let alone The Golden Rule. As a leader, it’s important to care about your people, to love your people, to care about their interests, care about their success…to treat them how you would want and expect someone to treat you. Remember in order to become an effective leader, you have to understand that “Relationships Matter!”
4. Replicate
Replicate what works and don’t force things that don’t work. Don’t try to be a replicate of another leader or simply replicate what you have read in a book, but rather replicate the effective “What Works” concept into who you are and what you do!
5. Resurrect
Resurrect a dying team member; an effective leader has the ability to take a dying team member on the verge of being fired and help resurrect them into a story that begins with this sentence…“There was a time when so and so team member was on the verge of being fired and so and so leader believed in them…Wow, look at how successful they are now!”
6. Reinvent
Reinvent the way leadership is carried out! Break the box, find a new way, figure out what works for you, don’t be scared to be different, reinvent what might has been seen as irrefutable. Reinvent out of hunger, creativity, thinking, believing, seeking etc.; don’t reinvent for the sake of reinventing! “Don’t reinvent the wheel” applies to those who reinvent for the sake of reinventing!
Have you seen any of these steps carried out? Share your thoughts on these steps or what it means to be an Effective Leader!
