There are two main misconceptions about leadership. The first is that you must have the right characteristics or attributes to be great and the second is that leadership is a thing, i.e., an object with properties, a noun.
Consider leadership is actually a daily creation - a way of being; a work in progress rather than a place to get to. Leadership occurs on a spectrum from novice to mastery. This is great news because it means it is possible to learn and grow yourself into being a great leader.
Here are 7 questions to engage with on a regular basis to support you in becoming a great leader.
- Do I have a learner’s mindset?
Great leaders approach situations with curiosity and a willingness to learn. They are vigilant about letting go of their preconceived notions and being open to new ideas. They are responsive to what’s happening in the present moment and confident they can discover what’s needed to handle whatever circumstances come their way. - Do I see everything as an opportunity to grow and develop myself and others?
Great leaders know that their number one responsibility is to grow and develop the people around them. They see themselves as coaches, always looking for ways to bring out the best in their people. They see their people as assets and trust them to co-create solutions. - Do I delegate responsibility to others?
Great leaders articulate the desired outcome rather than the “how to”. This empowers the person to take risks and use their creativity to accomplish the goal. Great leaders are supportive and provide a safe environment for learning to occur. They understand that failure is an essential part of the learning process. [Read: Not Doing it All Yourself, a 2 part series] - Do I take 100% responsibility for outcomes and results?
Great leaders see the results around them, both good and bad, wanted and unwanted, as measures of their own effectiveness. Blaming themselves or others is not an option. Failure is neutral and merely shines a light on a gap in their ability which is good news when learning is the number one priority. - Do I look for reasons to acknowledge and appreciate my people?
Great leaders make it their business to acknowledge and appreciate others in ways that are meaningful to the person. Great leaders are on the lookout for opportunities to show their people how valued they are and express their gratitude. - Do I know what my people want?
Great leaders are genuinely interested in getting to know their people including what’s important to them and where they see themselves in the future. Great leaders want their people to succeed and fulfill their goals for the future. When you know how to grow a great employee you are not afraid of losing one. - Do I focus on what’s working?
Great leaders understand they have a choice of what to focus on and choose to focus most of their attention on what’s working and how to do more of it. They don’t ignore problems. They just know that within the organization there are far more things working than not working and you get more of what you focus on. By emphasizing what’s working, the organization and the people in it are strengthened which enables them to handle problems with more ease and grace.
The above questions are not intended to be answered with a yes or no. Rather, on a scale of one to ten, with 1 being almost never and 10 being almost always. Remember, no matter where you are on the scale it is possible to learn and grow to the next level.
Your commitment to becoming a great leader is well worth the effort.
Great leadership positively impacts recruitment, retention, and engagement - the three biggest challenges leaders face in EMS.
