Every aspiring leader can take steps to improve. One of the best places to start is to understand what you do well and capitalize on it. Peter Drucker argues, “Self-development is making oneself better at what one is already good at. It also means not worrying about the things one cannot be good at.” To do this, Drucker advises taking an inventory of major accomplishments in the recent past.
- List your major contributions to the organization over the past two or three years.
- Specify precisely the things the organization expects from you.
- Be clear about what you cannot do as well as what you can do.
By listing past successes, you will have a better understanding of where you are likely to make significant contributions in the future. Think back to high school and college. Let's assume you were extremely adept at mathematics but you did not enjoy language study much nor did you do well at it. Which path should you choose going forward? Do you work hard at becoming better at language? Or do you decide to leverage your talents in mathematics and excel in that area?
We believe it makes sense for you to lead with your areas of strength. No one can do everything. You will feel more motivation, make more progress, and experience more success if you focus on areas that you like and in which you do well. Sometimes the best strategy is to play to your strengths and find ways for others to fill in the gaps. Through delegation, the use of outside resources, or reallocation of work assignments, you can find ways to make your weaknesses irrelevant.
Another excellent strategy for becoming an extraordinary leader is to observe expert leaders around you. Watch how they handle tough situations, particularly when they do it right. Many organizations are not leaving this process to chance these days. They are hiring professional coaches to give objective, constructive feedback to senior leaders. The higher people move in the organization, the less apt they are to hear the truth from people about them, so the value of coaches may increase as people move to higher levels.
Some steps you can take to develop your leadership abilities:
Take stock of your strengths: Don't waste time trying to be some- thing you're not. Become world-class in your area of expertise.
Look around for the high performers: See what they're doing. Ask questions. Copy their actions.
Try out leadership skills in other settings: Volunteer in your community. Practicing leadership in other aspects of your life allows you additional opportunities to hone and perfect your skills.
