Best Ways to Develop Leadership Skills
Leaders are not born, they are made. At least that was the philosophy of no less a leader of men than former Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi. While many think that leadership skills are inherent and an individual either has them or he/she does not, Lombardi thought that observation, trial-and-error, and practice could turn run-of-the-mill people into great leaders. Who am I to argue with the man who won the first two Super Bowls in NFL history? As such, let us take an examination of some of the best ways to develop and hone one’s leadership abilities.
First, it is important to always treat people as…people. Nobody is going to be seen as a leader when they are constantly brow beating and disrespecting others. There is a saying that it is better to be respected than loved. That may be true, but do not confuse showing common decency with trying to be loved. Respect is not given, it is earned. Respecting others is more likely to lead to gaining respect.
Following up on the respect card, make sure to respect yourself. It is impossible for others to respect you if you are unsure of your own abilities. A high level of confidence is a trait that is common amongst all great leaders. However, make sure that your confidence does not become arrogance. Often, there is a fine line between the two – one former is a virtue, the latter is a character flaw. Arrogance can lead to leadership having a short shelf life. It may play alright when things are going well, but people will turn on an arrogant individual as soon as the wind changes direction.
Next, observation is a great way to develop leadership skills. Great leaders are constantly learning. The best way to learn is to put yourself on the front lines and observe the strengths and weaknesses of your organization. Leaders who do not grow are stagnant leaders, and stagnant leaders (like stagnant anything) do not stay on top for very long.
Another aspect of good leadership is that it takes responsibility for mistakes/faults. Unfortunately, there often exists a culture where people are afraid to acknowledge errors and try to deflect blame when they occur. This may (occasionally) save you from having to shoulder any criticism, but it is most certainly not going to help you become a leader. In order to get credit for your successes, you have to be able to take credit for your failures. Just remember that nobody bats 1.000 in this world.
Finally, while it sounds cliche, real leaders do lead by example. All the rah-rah speeches and motivational ideas you can conceive will not matter a lick if you are not putting in the time and effort yourself. People are more likely to rally around somebody that is working just as hard (if not harder) than they are. Not to mention that hard work often leads to the positive results that will make others want to join in your cause. If it is not something that you are willing to do, then it is likely unreasonable to expect others to go there for you.
