Hey friends!
As promised in my last post, I will be sharing 5 valuable lessons that I have learnt from leadership in this post.
Oftentimes, we view leadership positions as glamorous. We sometimes think leaders probably have it easy. Oh! They must really enjoy ‘running the show’.
My experience with leadership has taught me that this is not always the case. Leadership is indeed a privilege and not one to be misused.
Here are 5 of the valuable lessons leadership has taught me so far. Sit back, relax and enjoy.
Lesson #1: Leadership is service.
Leadership is not rulership. It is not absorbing oneself from work that needs to be done.
True leaders offer selfless service to the people they have been assigned to lead. I believe this stems from understanding that being a leader is not all about you.
In fact, the only reason a supposed leader would get the best of his followers is if they are seen involving themselves in the nitty-gritty of the activities of their team.
For example, creating and sharing online meeting details after a long day at work or showing up to meetings when it is not convenient for the average team member is for me, a sense of service.
Lesson #2: Great team leadership stems from personal leadership.
For you to lead a team of people, you need to master leading yourself first.
Personal leadership involves taking responsibility for your life and your outcomes. This could range from acquiring and mastering vital soft skills, examples include developing self-awareness, learning productivity, communication, and emotional intelligence amongst others.
Developing a sense of personal leadership is how you build the foundation for group leadership.
The skills and values that you have imbibed as an individual are what will carry you through dealing with the peculiar challenges of leading a team of people and ultimately getting your desired results.
Lesson #3″: Have a “why”.
When I made the intentional decision of taking leadership seriously, I was tempted to get distracted by the possibility that I could be doing too much.
My sense of understanding of why I wanted to lead in the first place kept me going on days when distractions came knocking.
Having a sense of purpose for leadership is crucial as this would serve as your source of inspiration on days when the going gets tough.
Asides from this, it would also steward the direction of the change that you plan to effect as a leader. This would means less confusion for you and your team members.
Lesson #4: Good leadership thrives on systems.
In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear refers to systems as processes that lead to your desired results.
You are headed for chaos if you have not invested in achieving a system that works for your team.
You can set out to build a system by having a clear goal of what you want to achieve, understanding how to leverage the unique strengths of your team members, and having a clear plan of how you want things to work in your team.
Good leadership sure thrives on great systems.
Lesson #5: Get yourself a mentor.
You may have realised that we do not always feel motivated or inspired to pursue a course. Sometimes we just want to power down and not do too much.
Having a sounding board helps you raise your head high in those moments. This is where a mentor comes in.
Sometimes, you may want to bounce your ideas off someone else and gain a much more seasoned/experienced perspective.
For instance, one of the many privileges of mentorship that I have enjoyed is getting to run any random ideas that I get for the hub that I coordinate with my mentor and see myself grow through the process of materialising these ideas.
Mentors can also serve as a backbone to provide structure and support. Ensure to harness every opportunity you get to maximise them.
In conclusion,
Leadership may not be as rosy an experience as it appears but it is sure rewarding and this is how we can achieve lasting solutions and get the world moving.
I hope you find some of these lessons relatable and insightful.
Care to share more lessons from your own leadership experience? I’ll be in the comment section.
Yours,
Aarin.