We’ve all heard about great leaders like Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. We might admire these people but we don’t feel as though we’re functioning at the same level. So we don’t try to learn from these examples of authentic & transformational leadership. However, as a leadership speaker, I see that anyone can make a decision to incorporate the lessons learned from great leaders into their own lives. Ask yourself these 3 questions to increase your transformational and authentic leadership skills:
Who do you admire?
First, figure out who your idols are. For some, they may be the above-mentioned leaders in non-violent resistance, like Gandhi and Mandela. Others might admire people who have taken the lead in specific issues, like women’s rights. Even writers like Dickens took a stand when it came to the injustices prevalent in their societies. So make a list of the people you admire and the qualities they have in common.
Why do you admire them?
Leadership works differently for different people. The one thing that all leaders have in common is that they’re able to inspire others and move them to action. They’re able to bring about change of some kind. But they do this in different ways. Some, like Martin Luther King, are leadership speakers while others, like Gandhi, allow their actions to speak for themselves. Dickens was a best selling author. It’s a good idea to figure out what exactly you admire about certain leaders because it’s quite likely that those are the qualities you possess and should encourage within yourself.
How can you develop the same qualities?
We all know how learning takes place—through a mixture of rewards and punishments. But scientific research has shown that rewards are far more effective than punishments. So if you want to encourage yourself to develop the same qualities as your role models, you need to keep rewarding yourself for the smallest signs of progress that become visible. For example, if you want to develop the quality of speaking well in front of groups of people, reward yourself every time you are able to do this, even in front of a small group. Your ultimate aim might be to speak in front of hundreds but if you’re able to speak well at a presentation in front of ten, treat yourself to a cappuccino (or a healthier treat, if you prefer) afterwards. If a presentation goes particularly well, celebrate your victory by taking your team or your loved ones out to dinner. The more you reward yourself, the more likely you are to repeat those behaviors in the long run.
It takes commitment, persistence and discipline to become an authentic and transformational leader. The most important part of the process is to be aware of your beliefs, behaviors and blind-spots. But the world needs more leaders like you. So S.N.A.P. out of it! Let your talent and abilities shape the future of your success and those on your team in a S.N.A.P.