Leading from the Inside Out

We’ve all seen it, and perhaps you’ve even experienced it. People being moved into leadership roles on the basis of their seniority or performance, and then being given very little development or support to make the transition successfully. In the absence of guidance on how they can be most effective and authentic, these new leaders typically default to role playing a leader they’ve had in the past, or creating the “leader” they think they should be. This doesn’t always bode well for the new leader or for their team. So when in doubt follow your internal compass and lead from the inside out.

It will come as no surprise that I’m a great advocate of leadership development, and continuous learning even for experienced leaders.  Loyalty to the company and outstanding performance are admirable, but do not adequately prepare you for the demands of leadership – setting and communicating a vision, inspiring and energizing others, providing direction, building trust, coaching and developing others, developing win-win partnerships, and so much more.  As these skills are developed over time (and hopefully with some formal training) there are some basics that I think every new leader should start with, and every experienced leader should periodically review. These are tips for becoming an authentic leader which means truly being able to integrate your head and your heart and lead from within.

Know yourself. Develop a deep understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, how you lead, how you behave under stress, and how you respond to situations and people around you. Know your communication style so you can adapt it as needed to better connect with others. Where are you most comfortable in the four dimensions of leadership – leading with vision, leading to deliver, leading with drive or leading through people? Recognize that, and learn how to dial up your behaviors in the other domains as needed for the situation.

Know your people. Take the time to learn their strengths and development areas. Listen empathically to their ideas, concerns, and feedback. How do they like to be rewarded? What are their personal and career goals? Find out their communication style preferences, and make a point of adapting to those preferences to increase rapport and connection.  

Develop and communicate a shared vision. Employees are more likely to help with the journey if they were involved in selecting the destination. Seek out their input. Clarify direction and communicate progress, regularly.

Be honest. Always. Tell the truth, even when you’d rather not. Allow yourself to be vulnerable – share mistakes and what you learned from them. Give honest, productive feedback on a regular basis. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Walk the talk. Do what you say you’re going to do. Be available and approachable and encourage open discussion to deal with differences and share ideas. Be fair. Listen.

Do a Self “Check in” daily. What are the 3 - 5 words that best describe the qualities you use as a leader, and as the leader you want to be? Several times a day, every day, stop and ask yourself if your behaviors, actions and decisions align with those qualities.

The more authentic you are as a leader, the more influence and trust you will have with your people, and the greater impact you will have in your organization.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” —John Quincy Adams

If you’d like to learn more about Lumina Leader, please contact me at info-us@luminalearning.com or 888.827.8855.

Leading from Within,

Rebecca