If I asked you to use one word to define what the best leaders do that makes them the best leaders, what would that word be?
Some might say that word is ‘success,’ while others may say ‘drive,’ ‘motivation,’ ‘determination,’ ‘communication skills’ or ‘grit.’
While all of those things contribute to great leadership, there is still one thing that usurps all of the ones mentioned.
That word is ‘sharing.’
Great leaders share their stories.Stories include their successes and their failures, their knowledge and their abilities.
Great leaders share their stories of vulnerabilities, feelings, and opinions.
Great leaders are open to listening as others share their stories, thoughts, and perspectives.
Great leaders don’t need to “sell,” because they know how to make people feel. If you aren’t excited about it, it’s impossible to get someone else to be excited about it.
By sharing, leaders inspire others, leading by example, not just with words.
Great leaders are role models, who demonstrate by living their own success, and not getting sidetracked.
After all, you cannot share your success story if you have not created it.
Leaders know their story, they’ve achieved it, and they share it so others can learn from it. That is what attracts people to it.
But when I say ‘leader,’ what do you picture?Someone who is a high-level executive? Someone who is giving direction or delegating to others? Someone who has a title that is higher ranking than yours?
When I am talking about leaders, I am talking about you.Leadership is not just a title, it’s a behavior. Leadership is something to be lived on a daily basis.
We all are leaders; we all are influencers. Someone is always looking to us for something.Think for a moment...what do people come to you for? What are you good at doing that causes others to seek out your advice?Are you good at:
- Planning events (professional or personal)
- Organizational skills
- Social media strategies
- Setting and achieving goals
- Writing
- Parenting skills/homeschooling skills
- Managing time effectively
- Listening with empathy
- Emotional intelligence
- Offering different perspectives
- Bringing clarity to a situation
- Brainstorming
- Remaining calm in stressful situations
- Problem solving - able to find a solution
There are things about you that other people already value. Own those things! Own that you are a leader for those things.
As you continue to lead by that example, you will not only inspire other people, but you will help them write their own success stories in the process.
That’s how you know you are a leader.
XOXO!
Belinda