3 Keys To Successful Leadership
Reaching Successful Leadership Is Not Simple
If you are just getting started out in leadership then you may not realize up front that in order to achieve successful leadership it is far from simple. If you are an experienced leader then you know that successful leadership is something that takes daily effort on your part to lead as effectively as you possibly can. Successful leadership can very depending on who you talk with. My version of successful leadership may not correlate to another’s perspective. Either way, if you want to achieve successful leadership then you need to use these three key steps to do so. Keep on reading, it is well worth your time.
What Exactly Is Successful Leadership?
As mentioned in the opening section of this post, successful leadership differs depending on who you talk with. From my stand point there are multiple components into what makes successful leadership but they all point back to the legacy that you leave. Each person has a unique legacy in which they want to leave when it comes to leadership. From my perspective it is not about increasing shareholder’s wealth, getting bonuses, or any financial incentive (although I am not shying away from those.) For me personally, successful leadership is about enriching those that you lead and developing future leaders. If you think of a leader who you personally know would you automatically think of how much money they made first? Or would you think of that person’s character, what they did for you and how they made you feel? Successful leadership is about many things, but all successful leaders need to have tenacity and grit. How exactly do you have or acquire tenacity?
[Here is a quick video from Ken Blanchard which will help in building your successful leadership journey]
#1 Giving It Your All
You often hear coaches say that their players need to give 100%, or even 110%. This has become a very overused phrase that is losing it’s meaning. The truth is that successful leadership does require you to give 100% of yourself on a daily basis. Anything less than 100% means you are not pushing yourself to your limits. Leadership is a profession, it takes effort on a daily basis to separate you from other leadership. Give all of yourself not a certain percentage of yourself. If you are truly passionate about leading others and striving for successful leadership then giving 100% day in and day out should be a non issue.
#2 Lead With Determination
This is where grit and tenacity become one. Tenacious leaders don’t wait for luck to happen. They know and understand that training and trying is an ongoing scenario. If you are not giving 100% and also not leading with determination then you will not ever reach your full potential as a leader. Build your tenacity and grit during times of turbulence. When hardships happen work harder, smarter, and be determined to find the solution that is sustainable.
#3 You Are Done When It Is Over
Your are done leading and being a leader when you ultimately step down from leadership, not before. It is far easier to tire and lose your tenacity during leading rather than after. Robert Strauss is quoted as saying “success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired–you quit when the gorilla is tired.” Many sports athletes and coaches will also say quite frequently “it is not how you start, but how you finish that wins the game.” Successful leadership takes wrestling one or more gorillas more than once. The leader cannot tire first, rather the gorilla or the challenge, hardship, or obstacle blocking you from reaching new heights with your team. These two quotes are perfect for building grit and tenacity, something that all successful leaders need.
Closing Thoughts On Successful Leadership
Successful leadership takes tenacity and grit. It also take humility, a will to keep learning and growing, and many other components. Depending on how you define successful leadership your components may differ. Nonetheless, successful leadership no matter how you define it needs grit and tenacity. Make sure that you give 100% daily. Ensure that you lead with determination and do not wait or hope for luck to show up. Finally, wrestle the gorilla and stop when the gorilla cannot wrestle any further. The challenge or whatever it may be will tire before you do. Successful leadership is rooted in tenacity and grit.
Incoming search terms:
- successful leadership
- successful leaders
- 3 keys to leadership
- successful leader
- Succesful leadership
- keys to successful leadership
- succesfull leaders
- tenacity quotes
- three keys to successful leadership
- what would you do as a successful leader
Related posts:
I have always defined personal success as finding, developing, and using your strengths and talents. I believe the calling of a leader is to help others become successful. Great post.
Thanks for the great comment Dan. I agree with how you define personal success.
James