What do you say when someone asks you, “Are you a leader?”
An emphatic “YES” comes out because everyone likes to think they are a leader. However, a true leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way… at least that’s what John C. Maxwell says. Most people believe that leaders are born and not made. Remember the hero pose that Amelia Shepherd created on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy.
When Edward asks Amelia what she’s doing, Amelia responds, “I’m being a superhero. There’s a scientific study that shows that if you stand like this in superhero pose for just five minutes before a job interview or a big presentation or a really hard task, you will not only feel more confident, you will perform immeasurably better.”
If you Google “Superhero Pose,” you will find there’s a study done at Harvard that says if you stand confidently for 5 minutes with your hands on your hips and chin high, you will perform better at a job. Not only is this a great stress management technique but it also gives you the confidence to move ahead in your task with a positive attitude.
And that’s how the “Superhero Pose” came on our radar. It may sound like a bit of a cliché, but you won’t know if it works until you try it.
Skills That Make You a Leader
As I said earlier, leaders can be created. They just need a little guidance, perhaps from a coach who can plant the seed of growth and development. Below are the traits of a leader that you might already have but never used:
1.Active Listening
One problem that many struggling leaders face is that they aren’t able to communicate more freely with their team members but they are active listeners. They can note every detail as well as passing advice. They have a great attention span, which makes them an asset. With qualities such as communication and active listening combined, you can accomplish just about anything.
2.Visionary
Leaders operate on a vision. They are far-sighted and know what they want to conquer. If you are the type of person who likes to keep up with things, you have the patience and perseverance to keep everyone invested.
3.Delegation
This is one of the most important traits that should be in a leader. People who think they can handle everything on there are working on ego. A good leader knows that some tasks are better left to team members who are better at it than you are. This way, you can work on more important matters.
4.Problem-Solving Skills
It always feels like when someone says, “Do you have problem-solving skills?,” they are asking you a tricky question. Let me tell you what your answer should be to a question like this: “First, I analyze the situation and ask for advice from the people working in my team. I identify the problem and visualize how my decision will affect other people. Then, I ask them if they can handle the planned task and the role assigned to them and only proceed upon receiving their reply in the affirmative.”
Good leaders know that they need to keep their team in working order, and that’s not possible if they keep shifting the blame onto them and don’t provide any actionable solutions.
5.Passion
Passion for your job is what makes you a successful leader. You will probably end up disappointing yourself and others by being on the wrong career path.
There are several leadership traits, such as self-confidence, strategic thinking, resilience, accountability, empathy, employee engagement, and empowerment. I have touched upon the most important ones to tell you what skills you should be working on. So, next time, when you are about to enter a meeting, assume the Superhero Pose and calm your mind to focus on yourself.
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