Being a successful leader is not easy. Those who have never held a position of leadership may believe that once they get to the top, they can expect others to cater to their needs, but it’s the other way around. Successful leadership is not about power and prestige, but it’s about leading and guiding others, taking on responsibilities and putting in the work to be a good leader and it comes with hardship.
Here are a few hard steps you must take to become a successful leader:
Managing isolation: Successful leaders tend to be isolated. They are often consumed with the tasks and responsibilities of leading the whole organization, and they may have little time to connect with others. To combat isolation, it is important to make time to connect with others and to build a strong network of support.
Managing lack of time: Successful leaders are often inundated with an overwhelming amount of responsibilities and tasks, leaving little to no time for self-reflection and processing. This can present a significant challenge, as it may impede one’s ability to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of their decisions and actions as a leader. To mitigate this, it is crucial to allocate dedicated time for reflection and to prioritize self-care practices to maintain a clear mindset and perspective.
Managing fear: Fear can be a detrimental force for leaders, as it can impede clear thinking and decision-making capabilities, potentially compromising the effectiveness of their leadership. In order to effectively combat fear, leaders must take proactive measures such as identifying and acknowledging it, seeking guidance from a coach to develop strategies for managing it. By taking these steps, leaders can take control of their fear and mitigate its detrimental effects.
Managing decisiveness: Effective decision-making is a vital aspect of successful leadership, and it often requires leaders to make quick decisions. Though, it’s important to remember that leaders need time to think and reflect on the decisions they make. It can be challenging to maintain a balance between the need for quick decisions and the need for thoughtful reflection. Successful leaders must be able to stand by their decisions while also being able to recognize when they need to correct course and adapt. This requires a combination of critical thinking and humility, as it can be emotionally taxing to navigate this delicate balance.
Achieving success as a leader is a challenging endeavor, but it is well worth the effort invested. The key to success is to be aware of the various obstacles that may arise and to have a plan in place to overcome them.
Lead From Within: Successful leadership is not about being perfect, it’s about being willing to constantly improve and evolve.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.