Building Strong Leadership Skills
Posted on June 15, 2016 by Tru Pettigrew, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Effective leadership is a skill that we must all develop in the 21st Century if we expect to thrive in our careers and in life.
I’ve never officially been in the construction business. Maybe some of you have, but I’m sure that like me, many of you haven’t. I would argue however, that because we are all perpetual “works in progress”, we are personally and professionally always “under construction” in our life’s work. What does that construction process look like for building your dreams in the 21st Century?
I believe that the individuals and organizations that will thrive in the 21st Century will be the one’s that place an emphasis on effective leadership.
When you look at some of the societal issues that we have faced across the world in recent years, a lot of it is due to poor leadership.
As you begin to build stronger leadership skills, take some lessons from the building professionals… your friendly neighborhood construction teams. And one of the first things to take note of in regard to construction teams is that there is always a team! Teamwork makes the dream work and every dream needs a team!
Another important lesson in construction is that the building process for every great construction always starts with the foundation. And the foundation for leadership is character!
It doesn’t matter how smart you are, how talented you are, how strong you are, or how fast you are; if you lack character, then you will not be an effective leader.
Character cannot be prepared in the microwave. Character is built over time. Character is shaped by the knowledge and understanding of what is true and what is right. It also requires the discipline to make choices and decisions based on what you know is true and right, even when it is not the convenient or popular thing to do.
So what is the best way to grow and strengthen your character?
Character comes from experience. You will have to find yourself in some uncomfortable situations that require some tough decisions. You will make some mistakes, you will experience some frustrations, and you will learn some tough lessons. These will all build character though, and provide you with a solid foundation to be an effective leader.
Another way to build your character is through learning from other people’s experiences. That’s one of the areas in which team plays a vital role. Build you a team of mentors that includes men and women of character that are willing to share their counsel & wisdom, along with the benefits of their experiences. This is one of the reasons that having a Life Coach or a Career Coach is so valuable.
Here are 3 things to keep in mind when building leadership skills…
1. Leadership skills are vital in order to thrive in the 21st Century and leadership is more of a role of responsibility than a position of authority.
2. Strong character & integrity are always at the foundation of effective leadership.
3. Do not confuse Leadership with Management. Although they are connected, management is more about the things you can control, and you can’t control people. People should be lead, not controlled.
