I've recently been on a bit of a journey. Both professionally and personally. You see, I've been trying to develop my 'leadership skills'. And I've found this quite a challenge....quite a challenge really knowing where to start. But why?
- Because I never really thought of myself as a Leader before?
- Because I realise that with leadership comes great responsibility?
- Because I enjoy being an integral part of a team?
- Because I respect the leadership capabilities of others around me?
- Because I associate being a leader with having to have strong strategic thinking abilities?
Well, these are questions I have asked myself when I've reflected on this challenge. And do you know what I've realised? I've realised it's actually a mixture of all of the above! You see, I think I got a bit hung up on what it all meant and this made me question where to start and honestly, whether I had it in me at all. All a bit overwhelming! So where to begin then? Well, I realised (with the help of a fair few people along the way!) that the best place to start was with me. And for this I focused on two things:
- My perception of leadership
- Understanding what my leadership proposition is
My Perception of Leadership
So to begin with in my overwhelmed state, I think I lacked a bit of perspective. OK, probably a lot of perspective lacking in all honesty. In my mind at the beginning of this year, when I thought about developing my leadership skills, I equated it to learning how to be as strong as the likes of Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey. Ridiculous right!?!! Don't get me wrong, it is great to have goals to aspire to and role models to learn from. But I was forgetting that I'd learned that for every project, long journey, big undertaking, it really does help to break it down into smaller more manageable chunks! I needed a bitesize approach to leadership development.
So, I went back to basics and took a look at what it meant to be a 'Leader'. And what I realised was that for me personally, being a leader isn't about being the head of a large organisation, or being a multi-billionnaire. For me, a leader can be anyone. And it really is about being the best that you can be at what you do, inspiring others and having the Mojo required to look at what can be done better rather than just doing the same as has always been done. For me a leader doesn't have to be amazing at everything themselves, but rather needs to build a network of people who all bring diverse skills. It's about bringing the right skills together at the right time. Phew! It felt much better and a much more interesting and exciting opportunity once I'd figured out my perspective on things.
A book that helped me focus less on the title and more on the substance of leadership was this:
So, I went back to basics and took a look at what it meant to be a 'Leader'. And what I realised was that for me personally, being a leader isn't about being the head of a large organisation, or being a multi-billionnaire. For me, a leader can be anyone. And it really is about being the best that you can be at what you do, inspiring others and having the Mojo required to look at what can be done better rather than just doing the same as has always been done. For me a leader doesn't have to be amazing at everything themselves, but rather needs to build a network of people who all bring diverse skills. It's about bringing the right skills together at the right time. Phew! It felt much better and a much more interesting and exciting opportunity once I'd figured out my perspective on things.
A book that helped me focus less on the title and more on the substance of leadership was this:
The Leader who has no Title can be found on Amazon here
Understanding my Leadership Proposition
So, once I'd figured out what being a leader meant to me, I then had to figure out what kind of leader I wanted to be. For this I was very lucky to have had some very useful sessions at work. I'd looked at psychometric testing to find out my preferred way of working; I'd uncovered my top 5 strengths; I'd taken a look at what made me proud/frustrated to uncover what floats my boat and I'd also looked at career highlights to understand where I get my energy from and operate at my peak. It turned out I had a LOT of insight into me, my motivations and how I work at my best. So, I just needed to focus in on what this all meant in a 'nutshell'. In a session with the amazingly talented Sara at work (she's a L&D, coaching wonder!), she suggested that to uncover your leadership proposition, you need to identify just two good things. Two good things that you bring to EVERYTHING you do. Whether it be a team meeting, a children's party, a family BBQ, your day to day job (so in my case it could be an assessment day), what are the two things you bring to the party/table/mix?
Now, the first one for me was really simple to define. It is enthusiasm. You see, I am enthusiastic about pretty much anything. If someone I know is working on something I don't even understand, but it means something to them, then I LOVE it! If I'm in a group working on a project, then I will be enthusiastic about the new ideas, all the things we accomplish. To be honest, I can be enthusiastic even when things are not going to plan. I will see a silver lining, I will enjoy the ride and I aim to let my enthusiasm encourage others to enjoy the ride too! So, I was happy I'd figured out the first of my two good things.
And you know what, it wasn't just me who thought this. When I looked back at feedback I'd had and thought about words friends had used to describe me, enthusiasm came up a LOT! And I figured it surely was a good sign if others were recognising this as one of 'my things'.
The second one was a little harder to define. For this, I spent some time with the wonderful Sara. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I talked about tailoring the message for individuals. I talked about wanting to see people develop. I talked about helping people. I talked about a lot. Sara asked me to give some real life examples and mentioned I talked a lot about helping people and wanting to see them achieve their dreams. So she asked, 'Could it be you help people fulfil their dreams?' It did sound like what I loved the most. It sounded like a great thing to bring to a party! And so Sara encouraged me to have a think about it, take it away, try it on for size. And she encouraged me to focus on these two things in everything I do. And embrace them! It's all too easy to recognise and celebrate the strengths in others, but somehow not always as easy to embrace your own.
I was buzzing after that meeting. I felt so lucky to be encouraged to celebrate what I bring. And thanks to Sara's enthusiasm for my two things, I felt like I could genuinely embrace them. I did try the second one on for size and made a decision on this one. I decided to tailor my second one to the audience. You see, I recognise that there are some people I would be more than happy telling, 'I help people fulfil their dreams'. Other people, not so much! And not because I don't think it's a great thing to do. But more because I don't think they'll respond as well to that description as they would perhaps another. So, I have an alternative version, 'I help people be who they want to be'. This one is for my more logical / fact driven friends. Those for whom the word 'dream' may turn them straight off! And I can't help them fulfil their dreams if I turn them off now can I!?!! ;-)
The Results
I'm still very much at the start of my journey. But now, thanks to a different perspective, this is looking like quite an exciting journey to me. I have found myself reminding myself to remember the two good things quite a lot too. Recently I was running an induction course for new starters and was going to facilitate solo for the first time. I was a little nervous as it's a mandatory course and some of the material I'm not as familiar with delivering. However, I reminded myself to go in with enthusiasm and focus on helping new starters be who they want to be (successful Associates in the main). I played around with the course delivery (thanks again to Sara for encouraging me to do this) to give new starters the best opportunity to network (one of the biggest helping hands in such a network driven business). And I made sure the environment was relaxed, fun and a great environment for learning. I was mindful that the new Associates would have an open forum with a senior leader from our business and I wanted to make sure they felt relaxed enough to ask any question they had - which would in turn give them an opportunity to see how truly non heirarchical our business truly is by the openness of response I knew they'd get. I put together a playlist for my Ipod, I dug out some fun ice-breaker exercises. I took my two good things and my Mojo and had a ball.
And you know what? The feedback from that day was the best I'd ever had delivering that course. The opportunity to network was called out as a highlight for some, the music in the background a positive for others. The openness of our CFO Dawn was a massive success and key learnings a lot of people noted at the end of the day was how much they would take this to heart and embrace the autonomous way of working we have. I'd asked the associates to sign a 'thank you' card to Dawn if they wanted to, to capture the feedback for her (again, we're a big feedback culture!). And the comments were amazing, really lovely. And Dawn let me know she was really touched. She also sent a note to the Amanda, who heads up HR to let her know I'd done a great job facilitating the group and made her feel her time was really well spent attending the course.
Mission accomplished!
And you know what, I may not be the next Richard Branson or Steve Jobs, but I do make a pretty good me.
For anyone who is interested in learning more about their strengths, I would highly recommend strengths finder. To find out more about it on Amazon, click on the book below:
My friend Lou also puts very beautifully her journey in embracing her strengths in her blog. Want to be encouraged to embrace your unique offering? Then feel free to check out her post, 'You are incomparable baby' here
So, once I'd figured out what being a leader meant to me, I then had to figure out what kind of leader I wanted to be. For this I was very lucky to have had some very useful sessions at work. I'd looked at psychometric testing to find out my preferred way of working; I'd uncovered my top 5 strengths; I'd taken a look at what made me proud/frustrated to uncover what floats my boat and I'd also looked at career highlights to understand where I get my energy from and operate at my peak. It turned out I had a LOT of insight into me, my motivations and how I work at my best. So, I just needed to focus in on what this all meant in a 'nutshell'. In a session with the amazingly talented Sara at work (she's a L&D, coaching wonder!), she suggested that to uncover your leadership proposition, you need to identify just two good things. Two good things that you bring to EVERYTHING you do. Whether it be a team meeting, a children's party, a family BBQ, your day to day job (so in my case it could be an assessment day), what are the two things you bring to the party/table/mix?
Now, the first one for me was really simple to define. It is enthusiasm. You see, I am enthusiastic about pretty much anything. If someone I know is working on something I don't even understand, but it means something to them, then I LOVE it! If I'm in a group working on a project, then I will be enthusiastic about the new ideas, all the things we accomplish. To be honest, I can be enthusiastic even when things are not going to plan. I will see a silver lining, I will enjoy the ride and I aim to let my enthusiasm encourage others to enjoy the ride too! So, I was happy I'd figured out the first of my two good things.
And you know what, it wasn't just me who thought this. When I looked back at feedback I'd had and thought about words friends had used to describe me, enthusiasm came up a LOT! And I figured it surely was a good sign if others were recognising this as one of 'my things'.
The second one was a little harder to define. For this, I spent some time with the wonderful Sara. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I talked about tailoring the message for individuals. I talked about wanting to see people develop. I talked about helping people. I talked about a lot. Sara asked me to give some real life examples and mentioned I talked a lot about helping people and wanting to see them achieve their dreams. So she asked, 'Could it be you help people fulfil their dreams?' It did sound like what I loved the most. It sounded like a great thing to bring to a party! And so Sara encouraged me to have a think about it, take it away, try it on for size. And she encouraged me to focus on these two things in everything I do. And embrace them! It's all too easy to recognise and celebrate the strengths in others, but somehow not always as easy to embrace your own.
I was buzzing after that meeting. I felt so lucky to be encouraged to celebrate what I bring. And thanks to Sara's enthusiasm for my two things, I felt like I could genuinely embrace them. I did try the second one on for size and made a decision on this one. I decided to tailor my second one to the audience. You see, I recognise that there are some people I would be more than happy telling, 'I help people fulfil their dreams'. Other people, not so much! And not because I don't think it's a great thing to do. But more because I don't think they'll respond as well to that description as they would perhaps another. So, I have an alternative version, 'I help people be who they want to be'. This one is for my more logical / fact driven friends. Those for whom the word 'dream' may turn them straight off! And I can't help them fulfil their dreams if I turn them off now can I!?!! ;-)
The Results
I'm still very much at the start of my journey. But now, thanks to a different perspective, this is looking like quite an exciting journey to me. I have found myself reminding myself to remember the two good things quite a lot too. Recently I was running an induction course for new starters and was going to facilitate solo for the first time. I was a little nervous as it's a mandatory course and some of the material I'm not as familiar with delivering. However, I reminded myself to go in with enthusiasm and focus on helping new starters be who they want to be (successful Associates in the main). I played around with the course delivery (thanks again to Sara for encouraging me to do this) to give new starters the best opportunity to network (one of the biggest helping hands in such a network driven business). And I made sure the environment was relaxed, fun and a great environment for learning. I was mindful that the new Associates would have an open forum with a senior leader from our business and I wanted to make sure they felt relaxed enough to ask any question they had - which would in turn give them an opportunity to see how truly non heirarchical our business truly is by the openness of response I knew they'd get. I put together a playlist for my Ipod, I dug out some fun ice-breaker exercises. I took my two good things and my Mojo and had a ball.
And you know what? The feedback from that day was the best I'd ever had delivering that course. The opportunity to network was called out as a highlight for some, the music in the background a positive for others. The openness of our CFO Dawn was a massive success and key learnings a lot of people noted at the end of the day was how much they would take this to heart and embrace the autonomous way of working we have. I'd asked the associates to sign a 'thank you' card to Dawn if they wanted to, to capture the feedback for her (again, we're a big feedback culture!). And the comments were amazing, really lovely. And Dawn let me know she was really touched. She also sent a note to the Amanda, who heads up HR to let her know I'd done a great job facilitating the group and made her feel her time was really well spent attending the course.
Mission accomplished!
And you know what, I may not be the next Richard Branson or Steve Jobs, but I do make a pretty good me.
For anyone who is interested in learning more about their strengths, I would highly recommend strengths finder. To find out more about it on Amazon, click on the book below:
My friend Lou also puts very beautifully her journey in embracing her strengths in her blog. Want to be encouraged to embrace your unique offering? Then feel free to check out her post, 'You are incomparable baby' here
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