Don’t let time and pressure crush you. Instead, let it shape you.
Visit a distillery, and you’ll see that common ingredients transform when combined and subjected to time, heat, and pressure. The result can be legendary.
Are leaders born, or can you decide to become one? Life gives you all the ingredients you need to transform into a leader. Whether your view is from the bottom up, the middle, or the top—your decisions make a difference.
Over the past 40 years, I’ve found these 14 insights essential to leading a team and becoming an effective leader.
14 key characteristics for becoming an excellent leader:
1. Leadership begins where you are.
You may not realize your role or the responsibilities accompanying it demand that you lead. Either way, don’t be a reluctant leader. Your responsibility is to “lead up,” regardless of where you find yourself in an organization.
2. Don’t confuse leadership with a strong personality.
I observed a family member step into a leadership role for which she was prepared but unaware was her responsibility. She embraced the role, took charge, and performed exceptionally well. The role fits her spiritual and leadership gifts, and she had fun with her responsibilities.
The most effective leaders often make things happen behind the scenes, directing, guiding, and influencing those who appear to be public leaders.
3. Excellent leaders make wise decisions and then manage them.
Don’t be so concerned with your next steps until you’ve made a wise decision. A wise decision will lead to wise choices, and it will be easier to manage if you’ve made the right decision.
4. An excellent leader needs to know how to deal with ambiguity
After 40+ years, I’ve realized that the ability to deal with ambiguity is a core attribute required of my particular profession as a creative professional. Whether you are a leader or designer, ambiguity creates “open loops” of unresolved decisions. Open loops create anxiety in our minds and unnecessary anxiety. Learning to close open loops teaches us how to ask questions and enables us to move forward.
5. A leader must be a creative thinker
As a creative professional, you’ll understand why this tenet resonates with me. A leader must anticipate needs and think beyond perceptions, so it’s not second nature—it’s how you lead. Consider how this tenet is related to dealing with ambiguity.
6. A leader is a steward of equipment and resources...
...And people. As a leader, you must invest in those you spend time with. The people with whom you lead are part of your stewardship. Some might call that a promotion if you’ve inherited a position, but the equipment, resources, and people are your inheritance. They are a gift to help you accomplish something greater together. Don’t squander your inheritance.
7. Behavior and performance are more important than words
What we say can often be misconstrued or misinterpreted. In an instant or over time, our actions will define and reveal our intent and motivations. If in doubt, don’t speak, demonstrate.
Shared values define character,
Character defines the culture,
Culture puts shared values and character into action.
8. A great leader sees the big picture and knows the details.
Think of the forest and the trees or the horizon and the road. Get up from your desk, walk around, and talk to people. Visit your customers, ask them where they are struggling with business, and listen to them. Dream your big dream and have a grand vision for business. God expects that of you. Without an awareness of the big picture, you won’t know what details to pay attention to. If you don’t take steps to accomplish the details, you’ll never realize your vision.
9. Learning to lead yourself is the place to start.
Know yourself, what motivates you, and what demotivates you. Consultant Bob Perkins’ book, “Building a Vision for Your Life: Discovering Your Core Motivator — And Why It Matters,” is a practical and insightful book that challenges you with a straightforward statement: “Know who you are and be it.” It’s a quick read with many examples to help you understand your core motivators.
“Know who you are and be it.”
10. The leader’s job is to define reality
Bid Tribble, one of the original members of the Macintosh design team, described Steve Jobs’ charisma and ability to convince people that his way was the only way as a “reality distortion field.” (The term originated from Star Trek). Vision is simply a future reality; a leader manages present reality and defines future reality by aligning every decision between the tension of both realities. You must have the insight to determine your reality and finish what you start.
11. Leadership is a choice and must be intentional
Within our marketing agency, we practice design leadership, the discipline of aligning daily choices and decisions with the vision to which we aspire in our operations and in our counsel to our clients. Design leadership weaves together the four dimensions of communication and culture and helps you be a strategic, inspirational, relational, and aspirational leader.
12. Communication is the language of leadership
Great leaders are even more excellent communicators. A leader who understands that communication is the language of leadership creates a culture of shared purpose. The language of leadership isn’t easy. Busy schedules, diverse personalities, and different motivations all create leadership challenges.
13. Effective leaders are optimistic, powerful, and courageous
An optimistic leader chooses her words well to motivate people to follow, advocate, and believe in the mission. An influential leader is a positive influence on colleagues and peers. A courageous leader dares to change and adapt to make her vision a reality.
14. Visionary leaders demonstrate their commitment
The impact of leadership is amplified by words that inspire. People want a cause to believe in and a leader to follow. Choose your words well, and they will motivate people to follow—and believe in—your cause. Inspire people, and they will be motivated and engaged. Engage them, and they become champions and believers.
Are leaders born or made?
Are leaders born or made? Both. You were born with the potential to become a leader; it’s your obligation not to squander it.
Whether born or made, the process never ends. Gain wisdom, seek to understand, learn, and practice.
Over time, leaders are refined and distilled. The process involves heat and pressure, and the glorious result is the essence of the opportunities, experiences, and time that went into the process.
PS: Perhaps you’re facing a job or career change. Discover the value in your vocation through Essential: Finding Worth in your Work, a free, 5-day Bible study plan exclusively at Bible.com or on the YouVersion Bible app.