Want to learn how to build leadership skills?
I've been in your shoes before.
Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to have great mentors and role models. Not surprisingly, they always did 3 things really well:
It amazes me how much I've learned in observation and participation in those environments.
Those experiences help you appreciate the differences when you find yourself in an atmosphere that isn't as supportive, engaging, or growth-minded.
If you find yourself stalled in learning how to become a better leader, you're going to like this article.
I like lists of threes, though in this case, I have two areas to share with you that have helped me most in learning how to build leadership skills and add to my skill set.
As soon as I finished my undergrad in Physical Education, I began studying sales. As I moved into management and learning and development, I started to consume all I could in leadership and public speaking. When I first became a business owner my interests turned to marketing, copywriting, and web development. My appetite for knowledge eventually brought me to grad school.
Through books, articles, Twitter threads, newsletters, online courses, certifications, and more, the resources are available.
Whether formal or informal, it's key to commit to a practice of consistent learning. Start with 15-30 minutes weekly, and put it on your calendar. As you find yourself learning and growing, consider scheduling more time during the week.
Early in my career, as an individual contributor, I was fortunate to observe and experience the leadership of several team members, not all of whom were managers, in-person. Some were other personal trainers. Some were group exercise instructors. And, others were department, facility, or regional managers. One, often overlooked, area is how much you're able to learn from clients.
As a manager, I learned from even more people, including vendors, suppliers, other industry professionals, and each of the team members I was fortunate to support.
While interactions are often remote-first these days, I'm thankful for the continued building of a strong network through platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. These have made it easy to find inspiring individuals of diverse personal and professional experience, who will challenge and support you in striving for your goals. That encouragement and accountability can go a long way.
In the spirit of community, mentorship, and continuous learning, we're fortunate to have several guest contributors, here to share their insights on leadership. Enjoy!
There are so many ways to build your leadership skills, but one of the most important factors that will allow you to grow as a leader is for you to be open minded and flexible. One of the biggest mistakes people make as a leader is that they are too rigid in their mindset.
Here are some great ways to build your leadership skills:
What is your brand? Brands are not unique to corporations or
businesses. You have a brand whether you are aware of it or not. All
elevated, successful and progressive leaders put a lot of time into
making sure their personal brand is reflective of their character,
leadership style and personality. What separates the brand of elite
leaders from the "wannabes" is one powerful word, but an even more
powerful action: Intention.
Intention simply means doing things with a purpose and goal. From the moment your alarm clock goes off in the morning and you put your feet on the floor, what is your mindset? Is it, "here we go again... another day to dredge though"? Or is it, "Hell yes! Here we go. Today is going to be a day of impact, challenges and victories"? What is the big difference between those 2 thoughts? Are they contingent on where you are in life and what is going on around you? Leaders don't allow the surrounding world to dissuade them from their purpose. They are way too intentional for that. How did these leaders land in this wonderful world of evolved thinking and intentional living? Well.... They chose it.
Every day is filled with hundreds of choices. Cereal or eggs? Caffeinated or non? Good day or miserable?
When you CHOOSE to be INTENTIONAL about your mood, words and actions combined with the continual (as in never stopping) exploration of self development and how to maximize your personal brand--only then-- will you be on the pathway to elite leadership.
Tip for building leadership skills:
The hallmark of good leadership is self-awareness. Without knowing ourselves deeply, it’s difficult to lead from a place of presence and authenticity. Mindfulness is a foundational skill for building self-knowledge and self-understanding.
In addition to promoting self-awareness, a consistent mindfulness meditation practice - as little as 5-10 minutes per day - can enhance clarity, promote self-compassion, and expand tolerance and objectivity (among a sea of other benefits). Essentially, practicing mindfulness means being with the present moment - not ruminating on the past or thinking about the future. Leading with mindfulness helps ground you in the here and now, making you more adept at picking up on the energy and cues of those around you.
Mindful leaders are excellent listeners who are able to focus on the conversation at hand. Mindfulness is a buzz word for good reason. If you ask me to show you a capable, empathic leader, I will show you someone who has learned the art and science of mindful leadership.
The "leader" title is something you can give yourself. You don't need to be promoted into a certain role to have a greater impact on your work and those around you. Just remember the responsibility that comes with the title; the mindsets and behaviors that differentiate a bad leader from a badass one.
So what are some of these mindsets and behaviors of a badass leader?
A sincere thank you to each of our guest contributors, lending their thoughts on how to build leadership skills. I hope you found value in their insights, and that you'll reach out to connect with them to continue your leadership journey.
This section of the site is an excellent foundation for developing leadership skills, understanding different types of leadership, and exploring leadership styles.
To continue your learning:
In health,
Boh
David Bohmiller, MBA, MS (he/him/his)
Founder, CEO and Consulting Executive
Inevitabl LLC
"Helping fitness industry leaders drive employee engagement and guiding teams through organizational change."
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