They are the people who just have that ‘knaack’ of drawing people in some way. What is it that makes a leader the way of a leader? Some people are just born lucky with this quality. But what about the other 90% of us? Is leadership learnable even if you’re not born with it? Absolutely! I can tell you I wasn’t a born leader. I’ve gone to Barnes and Noble I don’t know how many times and bought the self improvement and how-to books on leadership and success. I’ve read them cover to cover, always digging for the secret that makes one a leader. And they all say the same thing: it’s in the way you think. If you think positively, you will be positive. If you think you are going to fail, you will. The saying holds true, “you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.” A positive mindset can surely help us develop leadership, and that leads to relationships. Well, if we all know what that secret ingredient is, why aren’t we all leaders?
It’s much easier said than done. It takes time and even practice. Everybody has their days, even the greatest leaders of the world. That’s normal. Some of those bad ones are hard on our mentality, and bring us down again. But a strong mind will pick us right back up again. You’ve gotta keep trying. Anything that involves changing your mind is a battle back and forth. But you get better if you stick to it. Imagine you are a leader. What would you act like? How would you deal with decision making? If you see yourself that way, others will too.
To better your leadership skills, start small and work up. Read a couple good books to get you started, such as True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership and Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life. Get involved in your church or synagogue to lead others in prayer. Volunteer to coordinate a project at school, or coach your child’s soccer team. In business, go out of your way to help others who have questions. They will appreciate that and know that you are a good person to go to for help. You just became a leader in their eyes. What is your area of knowledge? Did you go to school for something? Tell others about it. Are you musically inclined? Perform in front of people. If you know about business, talk about business. People like to listen to those who have a good understanding of a certain subject. Even if it’s the only thing they know. If they know it well, you can learn about that. Don’t try to talk in depth about something you don’t know very well. It doesn’t give you nearly as much credibility. I’m talking to you right now about leadership. Why? Because I know leadership. And I know success.
Focus on your thinking patterns for a couple weeks. When you catch yourself getting down or doubting yourself, notice what made you that way, and if your thinking is making it better or worse. Is someone else truly to blame for this, or are you? It’s always easier to blame someone else for our problems, but the power comes in realizing when we need to take the responsibility. The more you practice this, the easier it is to not let you beat yourself up mentally.
Stick to you guns. If you know something is right, even when someone else says it’s wrong, hold on tight to your story. Again, easier said than done. What if you’re wrong? You think leaders are never wrong? How do you think they learn from mistakes if they never make them? Even if you are wrong, you learn something. If you are right, others will know. Thus you should know where you stand on important issues, topics, and beliefs.
The good news, you don’t have to be born a leader to become one. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it happens a little more every day. Even the top leaders today have good and bad days. The difference is that their mindset is strong enough to get them right back on track. With a little practice and realization, you can better your thinking to be more positive. Share what you know, whether it be beliefs, values, skills, or knowledge. This will, in turn, help you be seen as a leadership by others. So go ahead, take a chance. I dare you to be a leader!
Source by Tara Brown
Dr. Ravindra Aher
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