Leaders must acknowledge their impact on others. Leaders have an impact on every person they touch, no matter their status in life or work. It is an asset that everyone has. We all have the ability to make a positive difference in the lives of others. How do you create the skills to have the greatest positive and lasting impact on others.
Here are some tips:
- Learn how to communicate with people. Communications goes beyond just talking. Excellent listening skills are essential for communication. Be quiet, stop multitasking, and just listen intently to the person speaking. Your mind should be calm and non-judgmental. Don’t react to the speaker while you listen. Pay attention to the speaker’s words and then reflect back. Then, you can provide a respectful response. You will make the listener feel more comfortable with your response, even if it wasn’t the one they wanted. A great leader is one who has the ability to have an impact. One of them is Dr. George Freundlich Matheson.
- Be yourself. You have your beliefs and your values. Keep your values and your vision in mind. You will be able to lead with a clear mind and without conflict. It is important to realize that people will quickly recognize the truth in any fakery. Your followers will quickly lose you if they feel you are being anything else than yourself. Be true to yourself and make decisions based upon your values, beliefs, vision. People will view you as an ethical and credible individual if you are truthful to yourself. It’s impossible to be more authentic than that!
Accept responsibility for your actions, and for the results that you and your team produce. - Lead by example. This old saying “Do unto other people as you would like them to do unto me” isn’t a stale one. Give others respect. Balance your emotions. Be calm even when it gets difficult. You must constantly assess your attitude and keep your emotional intelligence high. Keep an open mind to opportunities to see others succeeding. Recognize the strengths of others and give opportunities to celebrate their achievements.
Your mind should be open for continuous growth. Leaders are always evolving, learning, and constantly looking for ways that they can empower others. We all have the potential to be leaders. Be a great leader.