There are leadership development opportunities everywhere, and it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. Part of the challenge is choosing the appropriate level of investment both in terms of time and money, as this ranges from countless free books and webinars to various free and paid workshops and trainings to lengthy, expensive advanced degrees and executive coaching. Investing time and money into leadership development can take an hour and be free or it can take years and cost tens of thousands of dollars. There are so many different options and levels of investment, and it can be hard to know which options are valuable and worth investing in to develop strong leadership.
Unfortunately, most leadership programs begin and end with skill development. Although this is an important component of leadership development, it is, in my opinion, the easiest to develop and the least important in terms of what it takes to be an effective leader. This is not to say that leadership skills are unimportant, of course, but rather that they are just one piece in the complex puzzle that makes up strong leadership development. Possessing strong leadership skills is necessary but not sufficient as you also need the mindset, desire and investment of a leader to become great. As you choose how to develop yourself, your growth and focus must include all of these.
STRONG LEADERSHIP MINDSET
Having a strong leadership mindset is essential to leading effectively. Although there is no one right way to lead effectively, there are lots of ways to lead ineffectively, and successful leadership changes over time as we do. In today’s workplace, leadership is flatter and less hierarchical than it has ever been. Terms like shared leadership and servant leadership are common, and workplaces across the country are either embracing or resisting these changes. The ones who are embracing them, however challenging it may be, are on the path to success, bumps and all.
Your leadership mindset will determine how you lead. If you believe that your staff is there to follow orders blindly, you will lead as such. If you believe that leading your staff is collateral damage on your road to success, you will act as such. If you believe that life would be so much easier if your staff would simply do what you want, you will react as such. If, on the other hand, you believe that your staff are your greatest asset, you will treat them as such. If you believe your priority as a leader is to develop and support your team, you will lead as such. If you believe that leading is a great opportunity and responsibility, you will fulfill the role as such.
STRONG LEADERSHIP DESIRE
In addition to a strong leadership mindset and strong leadership skills, you need the desire to be a strong leader. Leading can be incredibly rewarding but it is also incredibly challenging, even for the strongest of leaders and those who absolutely adore what they do. To navigate those challenges and dedicate the necessary time and energy to leading well, you have to really want to do it. If not, you will easily tire of the challenges and responsibility. If you are truly driven to lead well, it does not mean you will avoid such challenges or become unaffected by them but rather that you will be willing to face them and continue striving to be the most effective leader you can be. Like mindset, if you do not have a strong desire to be a leader, you may learn to be a good leader, but you will never be a great one.
STRONG LEADERSHIP INVESTMENT
Finally, the fourth component of effective leadership is investment. In order to be an effective leader, your investment in yourself and in your team should be an ongoing priority. This investment requires intentionality and should focus on value. Simply using up your professional development fund every year does not check off this box. You must be thoughtful about where you need to grow and pursue opportunities that will get you there. Similarly, your investment in your staff must be thoughtful and impactful. It must also include your staff’s voice in deciding where and how they want to grow. Not every opportunity will meet expectations, but this will get you closer to those what will. Experiment with different opportunities and allow your staff to do so as well so you can find what is most effective and valuable.
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As you seek out leadership development opportunities for yourself and those you lead, consider where support is most needed. It is likely that some level of support will be needed in all four areas of skills, mindset, investment and desire. Explore the many different options out there and find out what work best. Allow same space and opportunity for yourself and those you lead to choose whatever combination of support will provide the most value. It often takes time to discover what is most effective. Take that time and be thoughtful in your choices. Keep in mind that your needs and the needs of those you serve will likely change over time so be willing to recognize when you need to shift in the way you are growing and developing yourself and your team.
To help get you started, we have developed a comprehensive leadership assessment that examines all four areas of effective leadership. In our own search for effective leadership assessments, we realized that most only focused on one area. As a result, we created this assessment to support our signature leadership program, Lead With Your MIND (Mindset, Investment, Necessary skills, Desire) ®. It is not a certified, validated instrument just yet, and it is a work in progress just as we are, but it is a good starting point to see where you are now, and where there is opportunity for you to grow. You can access the free instrument here: https://www.kscleadership.com/product/leadership-assessment/
Once you take the assessment and identify where you would like to invest in your growth, reach out to us to discuss the ways we can support you. Our services are as individualized and as nuanced as you are.
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