To me a leader is like the conductor of an orchestra who makes sure that all the right instruments are in place and are playing the right notes at the right time.
I believe that we all have leadership potential. Some simple but important leadership traits that you can cultivate…
· Lifelong learning. Continue to develop and grow. Continuously improve. Be the best you can in all that you do
· Trust in yourself and your abilities
· Know who you are and what matters most to you, in order to then lead others
· Spend time building relationships and strong networks
· Build your personal brand
· Show initiative
· Have a ‘can do’ attitude
· Show concern for others – genuinely care for others. Be compassionate. Treat people with respect
· Listen – seek first to understand
· Be resilient, adaptable and flexible
· Be humble
· Give back, get involved, put yourself forward, mentor others
· Let people know that you are interested in taking on more
· Look after ‘you’ – be healthy and active
· Never ask others to do what you wouldn’t do yourself
· Be courageous. Be prepared to take risks. Address the tough stuff
· Walk the talk – be honest – do what you say you will do – build integrity, trust and credibility
· Be passionate about your work – love what you do
· Be forward-looking
· Stay calm in the face of problems/conflict – respond rather than react
A leader is best when people barely know they exist…When their work is done, their aim achieved, they say ‘we did it ourselves’ – Lao Tsu