Tips for Developing Leadership Skills

We think and talk a lot about Leadership and how to develop the Leadership skills. I believe, in order to develop Leadership skills, as a leader we must be willing to acknowledge that, developing it is not an accomplishment - it's a never-ending process. It's a process full of many awesome moments and many lonely days. It's fun and exciting one day and then the next day we wonder why we ever wanted to lead in the first place. Many of us secretly fantasize about being a great Leader!

Being a leader isn't easy - it requires commitment for the long haul. It's not something we can just accomplish and then move on. Being a leader requires hard work, sacrifice, commitment and a willingness to grow ourselves.

The leaders I admire most are the ones who give selflessly of themselves and make personal development a priority. I can not give of myself as I leader if I do not first take care of myself. Great leaders balance personal development and organizational development. Both are important and one without the other does not work.

As I have observed some of the great leaders, I find they all have some things in common.

20 Things Excellent Leaders Do Consistently:

1)Read. They are committed to staying current and learning industry trends.

2)Attend workshops. Again they are committed to learning.

3)Join associations. Excellent leaders know that being a part of one or more professional associations is important. More importantly they get involved and volunteer their expertise.

4)Take time off. They make taking time off a priority.

5)Network. Excellent leaders are master networkers.

6)Believe. They believe in themselves and their abilities. Self-doubt and low self-esteem are stumbling blocks.

7)Look at the big picture. Excellent leaders have an unnatural ability for seeing the big picture. They are visionary and help others to embrace their vision.

8)Goal-orientated. However they do it - great leaders set goals in some way or another.

9)Mentor. They mentor others and have a mentor or two. Valuing both giving and receiving feedback.

10)Work with integrity. Great leaders are honest, hard-working and conduct all their business dealing with integrity.

11)Develop others. Excellent leaders make developing and challenging others a priority.

12)Care about others. True leaders genuinely care about people. They make time for them and they are passionate about helping others develop their true potential.

13)Discipline themselves. Leadership requires discipline. Excellent leaders discipline themselves in order to accomplish the tasks at hand.

14)Have fun. The best leaders are the ones who love what they do and have fun with it. Everyone wants to be around a leader who knows how to have fun but still gets the job done.

15)Willing to sacrifice. Leadership often equals sacrifice in some form or another. Great leaders are willing to sacrifice for the team - excellent leaders will never let on that they had to sacrifice for the team.

16)Speak boldly. They are not afraid to speak their mind. Yet they are able to do so with respect.

17)Willing to get their hands dirty. I love when I watch a leader jump in and get dirty. True leaders are able to put aside their role and do whatever needs to be done - even if it's not glamorous.

18)Act humbly. Excellent leaders do not flaunt their status or power. They are humble and have a commitment to serve others.

19)Think often. Leadership requires thought and planning. Excellent leaders plan time to think and to process information before making major decisions.

20)Are awesome! Excellent leaders are awesome - they are dynamic, focused and you feel better when you are around them.

As a leader we all have the ability to be excellent. Take time today to look at this list and if it make sense, decide which one you could implement on your quest for developing Leadership skills.

Take care & have a great week end!

Shamim