Summary::

Earlier this week, Tim Walther talked on the podcast about tactics for thriving teamwork and leadership. I wanted to stay on that note so today we are discussing traits of leaders.

A year ago I went to a conference called Leadercast, where speakers gave their 2 cents on what makes for a great leader. So today I pulled out my notes from that to talk with you about a few ideas that were touched on.

1. Leaders say “I’ll do it”

MYTHS: leadership is reserved for bold people, fearless people, it requires a specific gift/talent, or is only for the ultra smart and talented.

*Bold leaders say wow! instead of how? 

Go on to find CLARITY, FOCUS, RESOURCES, and often use stubbornness to make things happen

2. Lean into pain as a growth opportunity

Don’t focus on “being brave,” focus on attacking the fear. 

Eventually, weaknesses become strengths and you will forget why you were so nervous. 

Make Bold corrections to get bold results.

Ex: Is my job wrong? Do I need to change my diet? If you make these bold changes, bold results will follow. 

3. Do not rethink every decision

Surround yourself with smart, bold people; listen to their advice, and then trust my decisions. 

Even if it’s risky, risk often = biggest gains/most reward. 

Constantly be risk seeking.

Keep it simple: Walk with a purpose and make a difference.

4. Take advantage of your circumstances

If you are in a position as a leader, speak out!

Stop waiting for someone else to step forward, and constantly be asking, “How can I help?

NEVER let fear overcome COURAGE

Bravery should consistently show up in things that I do daily. 

Tell yourself, “I have the right to make this world better.”

Anyone who waits for someone else to initiate change is a FOLLOWER. Be an emerging leader, even if everyone else is going the opposite direction. 

Put yourself in the position to win:

  1. learn to thrive on being uncomfortable (have fierce conversations, continuously try to dive deeper than the surface of people)
  2. devote yourself to intense preparation
  3. invest in a coach with knowledge and insight to break down what I’m doing and see things that I don’t
  4. find a way to instill trust. (you must earn respect before trying to lead)
  5. don’t look back on past decisions, embrace new actions instead
  6. become a master observer
  7. understand the relationships that create a winner; remember you are the average of the 5 people you most surround yourself with

Don’t be afraid to work on weaknesses (you either get better or worse every day)

5. Bravery is putting oneself outside your comfort zone

BRAVERY is NOT for other people, it is for ME

You must be brave enough to fail

Take INITIATIVE, take RESPONSIBILITY, be a bridge to allowing change to occur, and constantly have compassion on the people around you.

6. Freely Failing

Fail often, fail early

It’s okay to feel like a fraud, most people do

Failure’s 2 meanings:

  1. you fail, learn, get better
  2. it means you aren’t smart or good enough

It’s better to fix the problems instead of trying to prevent them all.

In other words: polish your rough ideas into perfected diamonds. 

7. Thinking different and removing the public’s opinion

It’s easy to stay safe and be the status quo, but if I don’t step up, who will?

Come to serve not to be served.

Fear = invisible prison

You were made to make an impact. Think about the impact that could be had if I step up in my business.

Elevate my expectations of myself! Dream a vision that is much too big to achieve by myself and empower everyone around me to get to the next level.

Serve for a purpose, not praise

8. Do what is right, with no expectations

To make good decisions you must have:

  1. Strong beliefs (even through opposition stick with them)
  2. Optimism (make yourself a problem solver bc people follow solutions)
  3. Bravery (Practice and have courage in yourself)
  4. Preparation (run through all the possibilities and overachieve to make things easier)
  5. Teamwork (Hold people accountable and empower them)
  6. Communication (tell people your motives, you can’t expect them to read your mind)

You will be happiest when you find the place where you can contribute. If you care for people, people care for you!

Leadership can come about in many different forms,so find the one sentence that resonated with you the most, and improve on in it in your life this week. 

If nothing else, decide that you will take a risk this week and leave me a comment on what you did. It can be as big as you want or as small as trying a new food.