Effective leaders know their strengths and also their limitations. Of course a follow up to this is to continually work on your strengths to become more effective. In addition, once the limitations have been identified, a course of action must be put into play to break the limitation ceiling and concentrate on strengthening those limitations. One of the important strengths that a leader must have is to cultivate and develop leaders from within their own company. Motivation that developing leaders can excite from is being inspired to reach their potential. An effective leader must dream big and inspire!
TIP #1-Know your Team!
Knowing your team makes it easier and more effective for your company to move forward. Knowing your team means that you know who the experts are and who to go to for that expert input. You will also be able to identify future leaders for your company. Make them feel their importance to the company.
TIP #2-Get Better At Presenting
Great leaders are great presenters and speakers. Want to really make an impact with your speech? Listen to leaders who can do that. Listen to Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech or Jim Valvano’s Cut Down the Nets speech. Leaders are strong speakers. Pay attention to how each makes his/her points. Pay attention to their infliction and tone.
TIP #3- Get Over It!
As an entrepreneur, you will have your ups and downs. Let the ups propel you and learn from the downs. Be persistent and do not get discouraged. Keep moving in a positive direction.
TIP #4-Learn From Other Successful Leaders
We do not succeed on our own accord. Success is enhanced by learning from other leaders who are successful. Seek a mentor. It allows you to learn from other leaders who already have what you want and need. Those who want to be successful work hard at it.
TIP #5-Always Evaluate Yourself.
Know how you come across to others. If you do not continually evaluate you, failure is close at hand. Measure yourself on the maximization of potential, not necessarily the bottom-line result, and…When the light shines on you, deflect it to another who deserves it more.
(Paraphrasing John Wooden) Simon Sinek wrote this about Babe Ruth: Babe Ruth was not afraid to strike out. And it was this fearlessness that contributed to his remarkable career. He was the first player to hit 60 home runs in one season, a record he held for 34 years until Roger Maris hit 61 in 1961. He also held the lifetime total home run record of 714 for 39 years until Hank Aaron broke it in 1974.
He held other records too. He had 1,330 career strike outs – a record he held for 29 years until it was broken by none other than the great Mickey Mantle. In other words if you want to hit home runs, you will probably strike out many times trying. Don’t stop trying and don’t be afraid of making mistakes…learn from them.
Be a great Leader!