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Developing Excellence
May 2006
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Developing Excellence as a Leader
I think about the topic of leadership often because I’m constantly presenting seminars on this topic. I love to read new leadership books and attend other seminars on the topic. I’ll never know it all but I’ll never stop learning or working on developing my own leadership skills.
As I thought about my drive to continually learn and develop myself as a leader, it occurred to me that these are two very important characteristics of any leader. Leaders who engage in life-long learning and self development will bring their organization and its people to new levels. It’s been said in many different ways that you can not lead others where you haven’t been and that you can’t expect your team members to follow things you yourself will not do.
Life-Long Learning
Life long learning isn’t something you do once and it’s over – it’s life-long! Learning any skill takes repeated and continual action. As a leader you need to read, observe and learn new leadership skills and techniques on a regular basis. Continual learning keeps you sharp and relevant. In order to stay current and continue to grow your team, you will need to stay one step ahead of them.
The role of leadership has changed over time. And because the role has changed, we need to be willing to change along with it. Leadership requires change because our workforce changes, people change and the culture we live in continually grows and expands. Who’d have thought we’d be doing daily business via the web and the internet? In order to stay on top as a leader, you need to stay current with what’s new, learn from other leaders and be willing to make changes when needed.
Self Development
If you want your team members to grow and develop their skills, you must first model this behavior. Team members are more willing to develop their skills if they see you developing yours. Your team members watch you. They know if you’re doing what you ask them to do. And if they don’t not see you walking the walk they won’t walk it either.
The word self development has somehow gotten a fluffy connotation. I don’t understand that. Self development is one of the most powerful tools any leader can use. The more you develop your own potential, your strengths and your leadership skills, the more impact you’ll make on your organization. It’s a well know fact – people who develop themselves make it to the top of any organization. I’ve never met a successful leader who didn’t make self development a priority. And often when companies are in crisis or morale is low, it’s due to the fact that people are not developing.
Employees want opportunity for growth and improvement. Without first learning how to develop ourselves, we won’t be able to mentor others in our organization. People need leaders who are committed to being excellent. People are drawn to excellence.
Real Life Example
During the years I owned a construction company, I took these two ideas to heart. I read and learned everything I could about the industry and how to lead a construction organization. I mentored with others who had done what I wanted to do and I attended seminars at least once a quarter. I needed to learn the industry as it was new to me. I wanted my employees to know I was serious and committed to the success of the company and ultimately to their success.
I had a great idea for personal development for the company. I thought we should set goals and hold one another accountable for these goals. It was a great idea when I thought about it, but when I went to implement it; it didn’t go over so well. My employees didn’t think it was a good idea. They were not the least bit interested at first. Yet for some reason they followed along.
I knew sharing goals out loud with one another at a team meeting and asking for accountability would be hard. I knew the only way my team would follow is if I did it first. So I wrote my own goals and then shared them with the group during a team meeting. I shared my goals to grow the company and to grow myself. I then asked them to hold me accountable. They loved that idea!
Over the course of a month, all of my employees wrote down their goals and set up systems of accountability. They even shared them out loud at a meeting. It was amazing. And I learned once again that in order to lead, I must first be willing to do what I am asking of my team.
No matter what role you play in life right now, you are a leader. We all lead in some way or another. As leaders we need to take our role seriously. As you think about how you can create excellence as a leader this month, use the tips below to help you.
Developing Excellent Practices
7 Keys to Being an Excellent Leader
Have a leadership vision. Thoughtfully and purposefully write out your leadership vision. Include why you want to lead, how you want to impact others and what difference your leadership will make in your organization.
Focus on yourself. No matter how busy you are – you need to take care of yourself first. By developing yourself and taking good care of yourself, you will have more to give others and you will also set a powerful example for those you lead.
Serve others. Leadership involves giving of yourself to others. Think about ways you can serve others each day. If you need to set up reminders for yourself – do it.
Ask for feedback. Receiving feedback is a great way to grow as a leader. Find mentors or others in leadership whom you respect and ask for their honest feedback about your leadership.
Get a mentor. Go beyond just asking for feedback once. Find a mentor who will challenge you to grow and develop your leadership potential.
Study leadership. There are thousands of great leaders in the world. Read autobiographies of leaders you respect, surf the internet and find ways to continually learn more about how to lead.
Have fun. Leadership can and should be fun. The more fun you have – the more fun your team will have. And having fun is the best way to increase morale and often productivity.
Tool Box
Words to use this month:
D – Delegate
E – Encourage
V – Value
E – Enlighten
L – Laugh
O – Optimism
P – Purpose
Questions to Ponder:
How can I grow as a leader? What will I do this month to implement life-long leadership learning? And what can I do to develop as a leader?
Quotes to Repeat:
“Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” Peter F. Drucker
“A leader is a dealer in hope.” Napoleon Bonaparte
“The leadership instinct you are born with is the backbone. You develop the funny bone and the wishbone that go with it.” Elaine Agather
“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” John F. Kennedy
Recommended Reading:
21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John C. Maxwell
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...and Others Don't by Jim Collins
The Leadership Pill: The Missing Ingredient in Motivating People Today by Ken H. Blanchard
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http://developingexcellence.blogspot.com/
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Michelle Neujahr is known as a business and professional development expert. She works with organizations to develop their strengths, motivate their people and challenge individuals to go after their goals to reach the next level. For information on how to motivate your organization and recharge your people, visit www.michelleneujahr.com.
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Copyright 2006 Michelle Neujahr
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