The ability to lead cannot be bought, it needs to be forged. While you can be a charismatic person, being a leader is about more than just thinking that you can lead, it is about believing in yourself that you can do it, and having said tools to pull it off.
It isn’t always about having the best advice, or even being an expert on something, it is about motivation and self confidence.
Was Phil Jackson the greatest basketball player of all time when he played for the Knicks in the 1970s? He was good, but he will never be mentioned in the same breath as Jordan or Duncan for this on the court play.
What set him apart as a coach was not his skill setting, but his understanding of human nature, and his ability to be a leader. While Jackson is a famous example of a leader, there are leaders in all aspects of life, from teachers to world of industry and tech.
You cannot fake leadership; it has to come from within you. With this in mind, if you are looking to become a better leader, you need to not only take a course, but also learn more about yourself.
There is an important aspect to leadership that needs to be considered by all that are interested in leading: ego has no place in any aspect of the journey. There is a stark difference between confidence and ego; confidence is knowing that you can take on a task because:
A) You believe in yourself
B) You have the tools to properly take it on. Ego, on the other hand, is the idea that you are better than everyone else who is doing it. Confidence is what makes a great leader; ego is what makes others not want to trust and deal with you.
Bringing in another sports analogy, Wayne Gretzky was not recognized as the greatest player in hockey history simply because of his goal scoring ability, but his overall game. In addition to being the all-time leader in goals scored for the NHL, Gretzky was also the all-time leader in assists too.
His leadership on the ice was that he would score when he could, but that he was always willing to give the puck up to an open player if they had a better chance.
Part of leadership development is about knowing when to “give the puck up” to someone that you work with or live with, recognizing that they will be best to take something on. Your ego should not get in the way of the confidence, especially when it can stop you from getting you and your “team” to the ultimate goal.
Simply calling yourself a leader will not do; you cannot thrust yourself into a leadership position unless you know how to lead. For those who are looking to get ahead, and into a leadership role, leadership training is something to consider.
In addition to picking up leadership skills, it also allows for someone to properly learn how to lead in a variety of circumstances.
The time is now to take the next step.
Featured images:
License: Royalty Free or iStock
source: www.istock.com
Scott Murray is the Social Learning Evangelist for TrainUp.com, the web’s largest career marketplace. He is also a contributor to TrainUp.com’s Training Insights Blog, a series of blogs dedicated to career and professional development.