Unleash The Leader in You

Have you ever followed someone without knowing where they were going, or what the outcome would be? Would it not be comfortable for you to know in advance where they are going so you can decide if you want to go with them or not? Submitting yourself to someone’s lead without knowledge of their plan is a hell of a risk.  

Leaders take us on a journey of discovering our strengths, weaknesses, our needs; influencing us to act or not to act in ways that can be beneficial to both parties.   A parent, teacher, boss, politician, pastor, or the eldest sibling, are some examples of leadership roles.  Receiving acceptance and support in a leadership role is expected, but it does not always turn out this way. Leaders sometimes end up with subordinates who challenge their authority or feel they are unfit to manage.

The book of Exodus spoke of Moses, a chosen leader by God who had been given a great responsibility of leading the Israelites to a place that seemed impossible to them. Moses was destined to become a leader. It did not matter that he did not want to lead or that he felt unqualified; he was chosen by God.  Moses received instructions to possess the land which the Lord God had given them. On their journey from Egypt to possess the land of Canaan, the Israelites grew agitated.  Throughout the journey, they demanded Moses to prove their success to the promised land. They insulted him by saying they were better off being in Egypt, than out in the desert where he had brought them to die.  In Moses’ attempt to encourage them, they were still not convinced of the past experiences that had proven God’s mighty hand in their lives. How simple it is to forget what dilemma you’ve been spared by God, and how it should motivate  you to continue trusting in Him.

Moses faced many challenges  from the start of the journey; managing  behaviors including his own was critical to their success. Their  attitudes and unbelief led them to wander for 40 years on a journey that was estimated to take only 11 days. Many died not making it to the promised land, including Moses.  He led those that survived as far as Sinai (the borders of the promised land), and his successor Joshua, a military leader, led the remaining Israelites into the promised land.

Have you ever had subordinates who seemed to be raised by wolves and taming them was a tragic nightmare you wish you’d awake from? Have you considered your approach to be the leading cause of their actions? As a leader, you must constantly evaluate yourself to ensure you are effectively leading at a maximized level.

Managers have workers who are hired to perform a task and promised a salary once the task is completed.  The ways in which they get the workers to perform a task can range from dictating to micromanaging. Their main focus is getting the job done to benefit themselves. You may find managers telling subordinates ‘do as I say and not as I do’ or ‘if you don’t like it here, then hit the road.’   They demand others to do as they are told, without setting an example, always proving themselves as being right in every situation, rarely admitting any wrong they might commit.

Leaders have followers who voluntarily follow them, and become leaders as well. The ways in which they get the workers to perform a task can range from leading by example to managing from a distance (macro management).  Their main focus is getting the job done not only for the organization but developing better performers and future leaders. You may find leaders asking subordinates ‘what are some things you would like to accomplish’ or ‘ where do you see yourself in the next year?’ They often want what is right in every situation. If they are wrong they admit their wrong openly to their team, being accountable for their actions, as well as failures of their team.

Here are some important tips for embracing the leader in you:

1. Be Genuinely Interested

How much do you care about leading your subordinates?  Are you enthused and have endurance in developing future leaders?  If you are new to the environment, gaining the respect and trust of those you are required to lead may not be a walk in the park.

It can be challenging or intimidating becoming a first-time parent/guardian in the home feeling out of your league or inexperienced moving from a single life to having dependents.  You can feel the same when receiving a promotion on the job as the peers you’ve once worked with are now your followers; or becoming a successor in a prominent organization, and members perceive you to be too young or not qualified. Receiving acceptance, and support is expected, however don’t be surprised if it is not given.

As a leader how do you effectively lead amid a dysfunctional or chaotic environment?  The environment must be conducive for development and growth.  You must consider building a strong relationship, because you will need all the support you can get from your subordinates.  Where there is no trust and understanding between both parties, frustration and confusion are bound to occur.  Communication channels will break down, resulting in constant misunderstandings. Look at followers as potential leaders, not as individuals you can boss around, or enemies because you feel threatened by their knowledge or skills.

2. Establish Rules   

Good leaders communicate what they expect from their subordinates, and what their subordinates should expect from them. They create an environment that is supportive and conducive to producing the performance levels that are required to attain the success of the business.

In communicating what is expected; rules, codes of conduct, or laws, etc. are created to bring order.  Once your subordinates are made aware of and understand what is expected, a signed agreement should follow.  The agreement  is a supporting document that can be used in holding them  accountable for their performance.  When such rules, codes of conduct, laws, etc. are broken, then consequences must follow.

3. Choose a Leadership Style

Choosing the best leadership style that can develop and maximize the potential of everyone on your team.

An authoritarian leader dictates instructions to subordinates; often expecting them to obey without question. A democratic leader shares authority in making decisions and problem-solving.  A laissez-faire leader allows their subordinates to do as they please.

4. Lead By Example

The Michigan State University Extension posted an article entitled Monkey See, Monkey Do: Model behavior in early childhood by Kylie Rymanowicz who stated that what modeled behavior children will imitate depends partly on what sort of reinforcement those behaviors receive. People are more likely to imitate a behavior if they get some sort of positive reinforcement for it. For example, if a child overhears another child swearing, he might learn new words, but may not necessarily use them. If, however, the child gets some sort of reward for swearing, such as acceptance or encouragement from an adult, an observing child might be more likely to copy this behavior.

Followers display mannerisms of their leader from attentively observing their behaviors. As a leader develops and reaches his/her potential, so will those who follow that leader.  Leaders can only take you as far as they have gone.

5. Train Others to Become Leaders

At grade 7 I had an amazing teacher who seemed to have had my best interest at heart.  She saw amazing talents I had not yet discovered within myself.    She believed in me and pushed me to succeed in those areas.   Kudos to those amazing leaders out there who selflessly helped with the improved  performance of others.

Although some companies require employees to possess a certain level of skills and/or a degree to validate their qualifications in a particular field, good leaders take the time to train others. They go beyond ensuring the job gets done and constantly seek ways to show others how to attain success not only for the organization but also for  the individual’s  success..

7. Be Honest

As a leader, it is never a good practice to bad mouth your team behind their back or throw them under the bus so to speak, while you attempt to make yourself the superhero who’s always saving the day. Withholding information from your team in hopes of them having to always come to you for assistance is also foolish. You are setting the business up for failure in your absence, or you becoming burnt out at some point or another.  No employee should have to call you on your day off for assistance in completing a daily task or for you to make an approval that a team member can be empowered to make.  As you grow your team grows, becoming a product of you.

8. Embrace Different Ethnicity 

Culture differences are often seen as barriers that can hinder your success, but it actually is an opportunity to expand your knowledge and grow your business. You learn new ways of performing tasks and can effectively train and lead others from a global standpoint. Instead of restricting yourself to your culture, your company or team become diverse with members who can contribute unique skills or talent to your organization.

As a leader, you will be faced with many unforeseen circumstances, resistance from employees, and/or resistance from superiors, however, your task is to effectively lead.  You play a vital role; ensuring your subordinates are performing  accurately in achieving the company’s goals.  Possessing a positive attitude, being loyal, fair, great  communicator, able to delegate, and passionate about what you do should always be your focus while leading. Keep in mind that it is not just in the home, or on the job you are developing others, think of the world that is being impacted. The people that you lead at some point move on to lead others throughout the world.