While some people are born to be a natural leader – think about the Queen Bee in high school, or the captain of your college football team, for most people leadership roles are daunting. Regardless of whether it’s easy for you to step into a leadership role or not, these are skills that are so necessary for all adults as they enter the workforce and grow in their careers.
At York Jaycees, we believe these traits can be honed in early during youth and can continuously be improved upon throughout adulthood. Like most personal development, you can always be better. New situations, workplace dynamics, opposing personalities provide opportunities for growth. Even outside of the workplace, leadership skills are applicable as a parent, as a member of a family, and as a member of a community or society as a whole.
We have a few tips that help you connect with those around you and allow others to see you as someone to look up to and learn from.
To start, come from a place of vulnerability. It’s easy to let ego get in the way and come off as a know-it-all… that no one likes. You want to assert yourself without being bossy. By sharing personal experiences and emotions, it’s easier to connect with others. When they see your guard down, they’re more likely to feel comfortable with you.
Start by listening. Everyone wants to be heard. So how can you listen first, without interrupting and without thinking about what you want to say next. This little tip can make you instantly more likeable. Have you heard of the book by Marc Reklau – “How to Become a People Magnet”. You can checkout a snippet at Good Reads here. In this book he shares how you can actively listen to others vs. being the one that’s always talking. Most importantly, no one enjoys being around people that talk about themselves! Do you?
You can also think about whether you communicate clearly. Many folks often use indirect communication. They don’t say what they mean and are relying on the listener to read between the lines and just “get” what they’re saying. Often times, women use indirect communication – pay attention to this next time you’re with the women of the family. Instead of directly saying point blank “I’d like to go to Chili’s for dinner, does that work for you?” an indirect communicator will ask their dining partner if they want to go to Chili’s for dinner. Well… its sounds like you do! A leader will make a decision vs. waiting for others to control their fate and decide for them. Note – being a leader doesn’t mean you’re mean or impolite. In fact, it’s impolite to not say what you mean and put the onus on someone else to understand what you aren’t saying!
Leaders also know when to delegate. They do this by training others properly and staying focused on what they’re best at. A good leader is invested in other people’s personal development, and they help train or build others’ skills while also being patient and kind.