In this blog we are going to look at the topic of standing out as a leader. I want to give you three ways that you can stand out, especially if you’re in a new organization, trying to make your mark as a leader.
1. Create Relationships
2. Establish the discipline of self reflection
3. Have a clear understanding of where you are heading
Prefer to watch the video, click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiizf0lBoPs
These three things that you can do straight away, will help you to gain credibility, influence others positively and start leading effectively. How do you build good connections and establish rapport with the people that you’re leading?
1. Create Relationships
The first thing is this, you need to focus on creating relationships. When I come into an organisation for the first time, I spend the first few weeks getting to know people. I spend lots of time just walking around getting to know my team members and the people that I have to work with. I inquire about the job that they do, how they do it, what they like about the organization. Ask them what their hopes are, where they see themselves going etc. Whatever it might be, just get to know them and build relationships.
Relationships are the foundation of trust. If you can’t build trust within an organization, then as a leader you’ll never develop influence. Influence is really the key that unlocks the door to leadership. If you can’t influence people to go in a particular direction towards the goal that you have, then you’re not leading. But, before you get to influence, goal setting, vision or telling people what to do, you need to build trust equity with them. Trust comes through building relationships.
So the first thing you need to do if you want to stand out as a leader, is to take the time to get to know your people. Show them that you care about them as individuals and build healthy relationships.
2. Establish a discipline of self reflection
The second thing I think you need to do is to establish a discipline of self reflection. What does that mean ? When you go into a new organization you need to ask yourself the question; “Were the problems I experienced today because of me or is it something that needs to be tweaked in the organization?” Very often when we come in with fresh eyes we just see the problems. We say, “Oh that needs to be fixed.” It may not need to be fixed, maybe you just have to ask yourself, “ Why do I think it’s a problem ? Is it an issue with me ? Maybe I just need to let go of what I’m thinking; maybe I need to just see things from a different perspective.”
Very often things exist in organizations and in teams because that’s the way people have worked for a long time. To come into a new organization and say “Oh, that’s got to change,” but not take the time to understand why it’s there or why it even exists, will put you at odds with the people that you have to lead. It will also cause you to be an unreflective leader. It will make you believe that your ideas are the only ideas.
So you need to have a rigorous self-reflection discipline where you ask yourself regularly, “Does that really need changing or do I need to change the way I’m viewing it ? Maybe it’s not a battle that’s worth fighting, it might not be a change that needs to happen right now.” This only comes through self evaluation and reflection.
3. Have a clear understanding of where you are heading
The third thing, is to have a clear understanding of where you want to be heading. You need to be able to communicate this in a measured way. You need to have a clear vision of where you want to head, have goals that are consistent with what you want to achieve.
If you go in there and start implementing your vision, goals and strategies too quickly, without having a clear understanding, you might find that nobody is ready to follow you. So, you’ve got to have a clear direction, you’ve got to know where you’re going but learn how to communicate it in a way that brings people along with you.
There are 3 keys to communicating your vision and your direction well. First of all you’ve got to be communicating what you’re trying to achieve. Secondly, you have to explain how to actually do it. Give your people a breakdown of the steps that are going to be taken to get there. Thirdly, you need to explain why it’s important. If people can’t see the “why” that’s connected to your “what” then they’re not going to do the “how”.
People need to have a good reason for buying into you and your goals, changing the way they do things and following you. So when you’re setting goals, make sure that you are clear about where you want to head. Communicate the ‘what’ and ‘how’, but most importantly, you need to communicate the ‘why’.
These are three things that I think you can do to stand out as a leader, especially if you’re in a new organization. Try to build rapport and influence with a team, spend time building relationships and developing the discipline of self-reflection. Don’t be too quick to identify all the problems within the team. Get clear about where you’re going but also know how to communicate it well. By communicating the ‘what’, ‘how’ and ‘why’, you will find that most people will want to go along with you.
I hope that these tips were helpful to assist you to stand out as a leader. If you enjoyed it, give me a comment and let me know what you liked about it. If there are any topics you want me to cover in our next blog make sure you let me know in the comments.
If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.
https://leadcommunicategrow.com/free-goal-setting-guide/
5 Steps to Set Goals that Work
