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There are many schools of thought regarding leadership. An online search for the best leadership styles and best leadership qualities will yield pages of articles. And here’s another one, right? Not exactly. This article won’t tell you how to be a great leader; it will tell you whether or not you have what it takes to lead effectively.
As a former military intelligence officer and Department of Defense certified interrogator, I had to lead an interrogation team in a very chaotic, stressful, and physically and mentally demanding environment. So, I had to manage my stress effectively in order to lead my team so that they felt confident and successful. From that moment I discovered that if you embody certain qualities you are destined for leadership because people will want to follow you, even in the most difficult and challenging situations. Here are six things that will tell you you’re ready to ride!
Related: 7 Telltale Signs You Have a Leader’s Mindset
1. Know your personality
When you understand your personality traits, how resilient you are when times get tough, your priorities and goals when communicating with others, how you approach deadlines and organize schedules, and the criteria that are most important to you when making a decision, then you have self-awareness. -awareness necessary to be a leader.
Self-awareness about personality traits naturally leads to greater understanding and empathy when working with people who possess traits different from our own. Instead of being unable to make sense of the actions of others, we can analyze them and relate them to the intrinsic preferences of their personality. This ability can prevent natural urges towards the unknown from judging, blaming, or taking things personally.
For example, when I understand that you prefer to complete projects ahead of schedule following a list of priority tasks and expect me to do the same, I will not immediately label you a micromanager. You won’t label me a slacker when you understand that I am comfortable multitasking and am more flexible with deadlines and schedules when managing a project.
2. You know that people handle change differently
Knowing personality preferences is essential, but it’s also critical to be aware of how people prefer to handle change. Change is an event, but how change affects people depends on their personality traits. Some people embrace change so much that they want it to be rapid and vast. However, they tend to have difficulty staying focused and completing tasks. Others have an adverse reaction to the change. They honor tradition and enjoy predictability. If they have to accept change, they prefer it to be small and incremental. Between these two styles of change there is another style in which people approach change with caution, investigating all options to ensure that the change is functional.
So, there are three styles of change and the workplace needs all three to function successfully. However, if you were unaware of these change styles, you may have judged or labeled those who have a different stance on change as inflexible, indecisive, or impulsive. When we understand the three styles of change, we can better communicate change and successfully guide others through it.
3. You can make decisions timely and with conviction
When it comes to making decisions, I’m not saying you have to know everything – you won’t – or that you have to always be right – you won’t. However, you must make decisions in a timely manner and with conviction, otherwise you will make your followers nervous and may lose their trust. Does this describe you?
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You seek consent and obtain consent when it is appropriate and necessary.
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You know how to clearly communicate your decision.
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Don’t wait until it’s too late to decide.
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You stand your ground and take responsibility for your choice.
If so, these behaviors will earn the trust of your followers.
Related: 12 Character Traits Exceptional Business Leaders Have in Common
4. You are aware of your words
Before you speak, take a few seconds to review what you are about to say. Check your tone of voice and body language. If it’s a high-stakes conversation, plan it, write it down, and practice it. Before you say anything, ask yourself how you would feel if you received the same message. Ask yourself: What can you change to ensure your message is clear, concise and non- accusatory?
5. You can create a safe environment
Answer these questions: Do people feel comfortable around you? Do they feel comfortable speaking in front of you and giving you feedback? Do you model consistent and effective behaviors that make people feel safe? Do people trust you?
As a leader, you are watched and scrutinized every day, even on difficult days. So, check in with yourself every morning to make sure you have a positive mindset and demonstrate consistent, productive behaviors. You will become a great leader if:
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Listen objectively
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They are calm and confident
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Value what people say
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Respect the differences of others
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Try to improve and learn
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They are accountable and hold others accountable
Related: Being a born entrepreneur does not automatically mean you are a born leader
6. You are resilient
We’ve all experienced negative situations, such as making poor choices, reacting to someone’s words or behaviors with negative emotions, or getting sucked into self-sabotaging thoughts. When you can bounce back from these situations with a positive mindset and be productive, you are practicing resilience. Not only will you feel better, but the people around you will feel more comfortable. When people feel comfortable around you, they will trust and follow you. If you are naturally resilient, you are definitely ready to lead!
Don’t be discouraged if you read this article and think, “I need to work on this!” That level of awareness is exactly what you need and what will help you hone these skills to be an effective leader.