If you want to be a GREAT leader in life, it requires setting the example for what’s possible—showing those around you and on your team what can and should be done to achieve the goals set in place.
I’ve worked with great leaders and several not so great leaders over the years. The leaders who helped create the most success in my life are those who practiced what they preached, weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, and knew when to push me forward or pull back on the reigns and give me a moment to breathe.
What kind of leader are you?
Now, I think it’s important to mention that leadership doesn’t just happen in your business. Leadership occurs in every area of your life. From your family to your friends, to the people you spend time with in your community. Everyone needs to see who you are and what you are about to trust that you can help them achieve their goals.
So what are some of the critical characteristics of a great leader?
1 – Leaders are consistent with their actions.
A great leader will do what they say they will do, and they do it consistently. You won’t find a great leader who goes back and forth on their responsibilities. They will show up day after day and do exactly what they said they were going to do without fail. Think back to someone in your life who was a great leader. You could trust their actions to be consistent with their words.
Now think back to the leaders whose actions did not match up with their words. Did you trust them more or less? I’d be willing to bet you trusted them about as far as you could throw them. To be a great leader, you have to be willing to do what you say you will do and do them consistently.
2 – Leaders aren’t afraid to jump back in the trenches
The best leaders know that for their team to believe in the mission and do the work required to accomplish it, they must be willing to jump in with the team and help them when needed. For your team to trust you on a deeper level, they have to know you understand and relate to what they are doing. Typically, a great leader of an organization understands what their team is going through because they went through the same kinds of things at one point or another. If you want your team to follow you into battle, be ready to lead from the front by showing them you are going in alongside them.
3 – Leaders have confidence and empathy.
The best leaders know how to utilize confidence and empathy to help you get the job done. In some cases, you need a leader who can push your buttons and get you to step out of your comfort zone. That motivation can lead you to accomplish great things. On the other hand, sometimes a leader needs to empathize with you and let you know that they understand what you are dealing with and inspire you to keep going despite the current setbacks. Both situations are about moving the needle forward. However, the approach has to change depending on what you are dealing with and how the person will react in specific scenarios. A great leader will learn how to master both approaches.
So what kind of leader do you want to be?
An ok leader, or a GREAT leader?
Being a great leader comes from experience. If you want to become a better leader, you need to have more experiences and share that with your team. Another great way to become a better leader is to surround yourself with other great leaders who can help you see different perspectives. A comfortable place to find those leaders is within The Apex Entourage. A group filled with like-minded success-driven individuals who care about the growth and success of those around them. If you’d like to know more about being part of the Apex community, head over to www.jointheapex.com and check it out.
