As in any great endeavor, not knowing what is required for survival or success can lead to failure.
We often hear about wilderness adventures where survival skills are needed in order to return alive.
The same is true for leaders: without knowing the survival skills of leadership, failure or mediocrity are likely outcomes. And no one wants to be known as a failure or mediocre leader.
I want to suggest a few survival essentials that every leader needs to succeed.
Teachable: In order for you to succeed as a leader, you must be teachable. Contrary to what some may project and others may expect, a leader does not know it all or have all the answers. As a leader, you must understand that those you lead, as individuals and as a body, have something to teach you. When feedback is offered, listen to those who are trying to help you be better at what you do.
A leader who is teachable will have at least one mentor to help in developing leadership skills.
A Good Listener: Good leaders are good listeners. Think of the people you enjoy being around – of those whose opinion you value, and you may discover that one of the main reasons you value their opinion is that they seem to listen to you. As a result, you feel they understand you.
Good listening also is what makes those whom you lead feel cared for and understood. One of the surest ways to make someone feel ignored is to not listen to them.
I recall working for a leader who invited me to a weekly one-on-one meeting, but he did not allow me to say much. Whenever I did say something, I felt he was more concerned about comparing a similar experience of his own rather than truly hearing me.
I have learned that when people feel you are truly listening, they will speak. When people feel ignored, they will be silent.
Forgiveness: Forgiveness is essential to the survival and success of a leader. Being “at the top” makes you a more visible target; as a result, people will take shots at you. If you do not know how to forgive, let things go and continue moving toward the goals and objectives of your leadership responsibilities, you will become a prisoner of the hurts you experience.
Leaders who can’t forgive will become vindictive and obsessed with getting even. This rarely ends well for the leader or the organization. When a vindictive leader leaves, it usually takes the organization a long time to recover from the damage done.
On the other hand, a forgiving leader usually builds a strong team, which is able to function effectively. Forgiving leaders know it is not all about them, but about the bigger organization and the body they serve.
Core Convictions: A successful leader must know the guiding principles by which they lead. Soldiers do not wait until they get into the battle to pick out their weapons; instead, they carry their weapons with them. In the same way leaders should not wait until they are in the battle of tough decision-making to try to decide if something is right or wrong, fair or unjust. Core values should be settled beforehand. I once heard someone say that when it comes to matters of core convictions, you should have said ‘yes’ or ‘no’ before you have to say ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ In other words, decide your position before you are asked to declare it.
How are you surviving in your role as leader? Maybe you need to take a step back and check out your survival guide. Do you need to address one, two, three or all of the above in order to enhance your chances of survival – and success – as a leader?
If you would like help in achieving your goals in any area of your life, call us at 208-880-0307 or email us at errol@errolcarrim.com to schedule a complimentary coaching session. To read Errol’s other posts, visit Christ-Centered Life Coaching.
Photo credit: Michael Matti / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND