As a leadership coach, one of the most common questions I hear from my clients is “How can I unlock my full leadership potential?” Unlocking your leadership potential is not an overnight process and it requires a combination of self-awareness, skill-building, and consistent effort.
Here are some ways that I have coached my clients in finding ways to unlock their leadership potential:
Get to know yourself: The first step in unlocking your leadership potential is to get to know yourself. This means understanding your strengths, weaknesses, values, and what drives you. Self-awareness allows you to understand your own motivations and to make informed decisions about the direction you want to take your leadership.
Develop your emotional intelligence: Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions, and the emotions of others. It’s essential for effective leadership, as it allows you to build relationships and navigate difficult conversations with ease. To develop your emotional intelligence, practice active listening, take responsibility for your emotions and reactions, and try to understand the perspectives of others.
Be willing to talk about difficult subjects: As a leader, it’s important to be able to have difficult conversations with your team members. Being willing to have these conversations demonstrates your courage and willingness to lead by example. It also help to build trust and open communication within the team. It’s important to approach these conversations with openness and empathy, rather than judgment or blame.
Know your weaknesses: Understanding your weaknesses is just as important as understanding your strengths. By identifying areas where you need improvement, you can develop a plan to overcome them. This might involve additional training, seeking feedback or even seeking help from a coach or mentor.
Surround yourself with the right people: As a leader, the people around you can have a significant impact on your performance. Surround yourself with people who have the skills and knowledge that you lack, and who can support and challenge you. This might mean hiring new team members or even seeking out a leadership coach.
Lead From Within: Unlocking your leadership potential is not about reaching a destination, it’s about embracing the journey.
#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.