Warren Bennis famously said, “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” Achieving this requires not only a clear understanding of your current level of leadership and where you can improve but also an openness to growth and learning. Being a better leader and reaching greater heights requires constant effort to improve one’s leadership skills. Investing in your own development as a leader is crucial if you want to make a significant and long-lasting contribution to your business, whether through formally structured training programs or more casual self-learning activities like reading books or watching videos on the subject. Making an investment in your own leadership development can help you realize your full potential and achieve your goals.
John Maxwell’s “Law of Lid” is particularly useful when considering your level of leadership. It says that your level of effectiveness is limited by the level of your leadership. If you’re not seeing the results that you want, it could be an indication that it’s time to increase your own capabilities and take your leadership up a notch. By investing in yourself as a leader, you can achieve greater success and truly unlock your potential. Your level of leadership is like a “lid” that controls how much success you and your team can achieve. If your lid is set at 5, then the most successful accomplishments will be limited to 4 or fewer. Fortunately, it’s possible to remove this cap by raising your own leadership; as you do so, greater successes await you and your team or company.
John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach and winner of 10 NCAA national championships, famously said, “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” Becoming the best leader that you can require hard work and dedication. With the right mindset and strategic investments in your leadership capabilities, you can achieve great success. Knowing where you are as a leader is an important first step in this journey.
The journey to self-awareness and leadership development is rich in opportunity and reward. Investing in yourself as a leader can not only help you become the best version of yourself but also create a positive ripple effect for your team or company. As you delve into your own leadership journey, you may discover that your level is greater than you expected. On the other hand, you may also find the opposite!
Before we delve deeper, it is essential to keep in mind that you are not necessarily looking for a specific number; rather, you are finding opportunities for success and learning from prior mistakes. There are a variety of self-assessments that rely on the veracity of your responses if you wish to conduct an honest evaluation.
One such free assessment can be found here: https://growth.maxwellleadership.com/wp-login.php. I can provide a complete 360-degree assessment or DISC personality assessment that will give an additional, in-depth understanding of your styles. Visit my website for more information. https://www.JAKellyConsulting.com
I urge you to pause and reflect on moments when your team was working well together and meeting goals. What were the key elements of these experiences? How did they achieve this remarkable success? And how can you replicate this formula for future success?
Now do the opposite. Think about a time when a situation ended badly. perhaps in a way that crushed the morale of your office. What happened that led to those poor outcomes?
Here’s a short list of some of the practices of higher-level leaders in the 8 or 9 range. (In my book, no one is a 10 because you can always learn and improve.) Mark those that you regularly practice
- Setting clear goals that are aligned with the team’s mission and purpose.
- Ensuring a good understanding of roles and responsibilities among team members.
- Providing ongoing support and guidance for team members throughout their tasks.
- Encouraging collaboration and communication between team members.
- Promoting an environment where mistakes are allowed if they are used to generate positive learning opportunities.
- Creating regular times to check in, review progress, and adjust.
- Encouraging every team member to voice their opinion and contribute actively.
- Making sure everyone on the team feels valued and appreciated.
- Celebrating the successes and unique accomplishments of the team.
- Encouraging the open exchange of ideas and constructive feedback.
If you consistently provide at least six of these, you are likely a higher-level leader; if this is mostly foreign to you, you are probably at a lower level. By gaining a deeper understanding of your current leadership skills, you can create a plan to realize your full leadership potential and unlock the highest levels of success for yourself and your team.
I encourage you to assess your current position as a leader and begin planning for greater success in the future. Investing in yourself as a leader will help you be the best version of yourself and achieve greater success for your team or company. Leadership is an ongoing journey, so continue striving to become the very best that you can be!
Join the Leadership Lounge to discuss leadership struggles and wins. We meet via Zoom on the second and fourth Fridays of each month. The mission of the group is to provide training that encourages discussion and debate among members, focusing on core skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative solutions. Members will be encouraged to share their perspectives and experiences in a safe and respectful environment. Lounge members will benefit from a wide variety of speakers chosen based on the group’s requests. Additionally, the group aims to build relationships between members through networking events, community outreach initiatives, and mentorship opportunities. Registration link: https://jeriannkelly.leadingthebest.com/CL0006