Whoa! This is my first discussion-post. I've been thinking what subject to present/ cover and finally it's here! π₯³ 3, 2, 1: action!π½οΈ
Authentic leaders are like the sun: the sun gives away all it has to the plants and the trees. But in return, the plants and the trees always grow towards the sun.
Robin Sharma
The importance of who/ how/ what the captain of team is, represents a hot topic. Having someone that is anything but a constant pain or even a threat to your mental health, could mark your journey in the company. Regardless of the researches and studies found in different sources, think about if and how the manager impacted your trajectory π.
What makes a good leader?
Robin Sharma emphasized a decalogue of commandments (though this is not the official term) of WHO good leaders are.
Good leaders:
1) Speaks their truth by being clear and honest, and use words they really believe in
2) Sincerely lead from their heart and aren't afraid to show their vulnerability
3) Act in accordance with their words have rich moral fibre and put their values into practice
4) Are courageous and don't always choose the path of least resistance; they're not afraid to put their necks on the line
5) Build teams and create communities based on kindness, collaboration and friendship
6) Deepen themselves by examining their strengths and weaknesses
7) Are dreamers and identify new opportunities
8) Care for themselves, both physically and mentally
9) Commit to excellence rather than perfection
10) Leave a legacy, or at least a lasting impression on the people around them.
Authenticity and vulnerability
Being genuine is the cornerstone of a good leadership. This implies vulnerability.
There's that saying: fake it till you make. Is that beneficial? And if so, is it really for long-term? How would you define that long-term? A vulnerable system opens the doors for attackers. So, as a human being, hiding the vulnerabilities protects you from attackers. As you can see, the word "hiding" is emphasized- because hiding doesn't mean you don't have them. You don't have them until they find out. What if you let your vulnerabilities breathe and don't cover them in clothes so as you sweat so much that they add a design to your actual T-shirt?
Nelson Mandela said:
If you are humble, you are no threat to anybody. Some behave in a way that dominates others. That's a mistake. If you want cooperation of humans around you, you must make them feel they are important- and you do that by being genuine and humble.
How can you achieve authenticity?
You need to master yourself first. Take a look into your internal life.
What do you take with you from this article?
This article is directed equally to captains of teams, aspiring ones or even people who rejected the idea of pursuing a coordinator/ manager/ leader path.
Ask yourself:
Who am I?
What do I stand for?
Am I open and honest and genuinely interest of others?
What are my convictions?
Make abstraction as much as you can of what you just read or the knowledge you accumulated in general about what leadership is.
Oh, hello there!
My question for you is: What is a good leader, in YOUR vision? π It would make me grateful if you genuinely wanted to share your thoughts here and engage in this conversation! Also, I hope this post is useful for you in any good way.
Until next time!π
Curious where is the picture from? Thanks to Freepik I obtained a great image for the cover.
Top comments (2)
In my opinion, a good leader is someone who also follows.
You have to follow the same rules you hold others accountable to.
You have to follow the laws that leaders in your industry are supposed to follow.
You have to follow rules that you set for yourself.
I think there are a lot of people who want to be leaders, but in my opinion most good leadership actually comes from following.
I really appreciate sharing your insight and bringing up the idea of following! π
To be a leader, you need to set the power of example- and this implies following. If you want to be followed, follow. π
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