Success Library: Exceptional Leadership
Becoming an exceptional leader begins with the desire or the need to do so; and there are many reasons a person begins this journey. Perhaps you see a need in your environment and feel a sense of responsibility to remedy the situation or create something better. Or perhaps the leadership journey is a means to round out your own personal or professional development. Or maybe the choice was made for you: perhaps you’ve received a promotion at work, got nominated for a committee, or started a new family…
The reasons for wanting to become better a leader, and the leadership situations themselves, are diverse. But the ideal outcome is always the same: we want to look good and not mess up; we want be effective in the role; and we want to be confident that we can pull it off with finesse.
Whatever your reasons for becoming an exceptional leader, there are certain steps to follow along the way – a series of smaller outcomes that lead to the end goal:
1. Know exactly what you want to achieve as a leader, and why you want to achieve it
2. Understand your environment and be aware of the opportunities for, and obstacles to, your development
3. Understand the various leadership theories and styles that have been studied
4. Develop your own self-awareness; know your leadership strengths, weaknesses, and preferences
5. Map out a plan for your leadership development
6. Engage in practice and solicit feedback about your leadership style; adjusting and strengthening along the way
Each of these steps stands on its own as one piece of the larger puzzle: an individual task that needs to be thoroughly explored and mastered before moving onto the next. Taken together, this series of tasks makes up a complete system for developing an exceptional leadership presence. Take the time to really explore each of them and see how your leadership blossoms.
(And for a more detailed walk-through with practical examples and exercises, please see the ebook Be a Leader.)
Below you’ll also find links to some of the articles I’ve written previously for the site. Most of them were not written specifically in relation to the above steps (although a few were); but I’ve chosen and grouped the ones that I think best support each one. More will be added as they become available:
Step 1: Know exactly what you want to achieve as a leader, and why you want to achieve it
Supporting articles:
Express your Leadership Despite the Obstacles
Step 2: Understand your environment and be aware of the opportunities for, and obstacles to, your development
Supporting articles:
Common Mistakes in Leadership and Relationships
Step 3: Understand the various leadership theories and styles that have been studied
Supporting articles:
Step 4: Develop your self-awareness; know your leadership strengths, weaknesses, and preferences
Supporting articles:
What is Your Leadership Style?
How Influential Are You As a Leader?
Always Question Your Leadership
Step 5: Map out a plan for your leadership development
Supporting articles:
Your Leadership Development Plan
Step 6: Engage in practice and solicit feedback about your leadership style; adjusting and strengthening along the way
Supporting articles:
Affording the Right Level of Autonomy
Coaching Skills for Leaders (The Nuts and Bolts)
Thanks for reading! If you’ve enjoyed these articles, please check out the Be a Leader ebook for more detailed tools, strategies, and exercises for becoming an exceptional leader!