5 Questions To Seize Leadership

One of the key issues with leaders is that they know really well what they’re good at. But most important, they are 100 percent clear of their strenghts and weaknesses. The next five questions will help you measure your leadership and figure out, how good you’re at what you do.

These questions have been adapted from the book Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value (J-B Warren Bennis Series), written by Bill George.

1. Do you Know What Your Purpose is?
If you don’t, you’re probably wasting more energy and efforts on things you shouldn’t. Remember that you will not follow someone lacking purpose and direction in leading. The key issue here is to know that a leaders are at the mercy of their egos if they don’t have a real sense of purpose, and that sense comes from understanding yourself, from knowing your passions and your motivations. Know your purporse, and people will follow.

2. Do you base your actions on Solid Values?
Your values are your internal laws, the ones that direct all your actions. You’ll know you’ve broken one of those laws, the minute you feel uncomfortable with your actions. If you want to identify your core values, watch your actions. Values and character define leadership. One of the most important values you should foster is integrity.

3. Are You listening To Your Heart?
Appealing to your team’s hearts and minds is more than giving a pep talk, is knowing them, and having a good understanding of why they’re working. A good leader knows how to appeal the souls of their colleagues/employees to reach performances way ahead of what is expected.

4. Do you have Good, enduring Relationships?
Today’s work is a call for working on teams, today more than ever personal relationships play a big role in the outcomes of every team or work group. The ability to develop good relationships is one that a leader needs to work on to connect with his/her team, and will in turn result result into a deeper commitment of the group to their work.

5. Do You have Self Discipline?
Last but not least, self discipline is the quality that helps you gain the respect of others. No matter how good you’re at something, if you can’t perform consistently and with discipline in the long term you will not have the respect of your group. As said in question #2 your actions reveal your values, so if you want to lead, you should rely on self discipline. Nobody follows someone who can’t control him/herself.

I hope these questions help you to identify what are the things you have/need to improve to become a better leader, to be an Authentic Leader in your company and in your life.

LEADERSHIP ACTIONS

Pick one, and only the most difficult of the questions for to answer and improve yourself, improve and grow. And as always, Be Alert, Be A Leader