A Leadership ‘Self Check’: How To Evaluate Yourself As A Leader
The supreme quality of leadership is integrity .You don’t lead by hitting people over the head—that’s assault, not leadership -Dwight Eisenhower
Our actions are more important to our children than our words, according to parenting experts. We can advise them to cut down on their screen time, but if we never stop talking about it, our statements are meaningless.
We can request that they be polite with their language on the road, but if we scream at the motorist who cuts us off in traffic, they will do the same behavior.
There have been several instances when our families or friends have done something I had warned them against, but the fact is that they are doing it because they see me doing it as well!
In both cases, the same is true: People will follow what you DO rather than what you SAY.
I’m always evaluating and re-evaluating my leadership style. It’s important to me to be constantly learning and growing as a leader.
I recently read an article that talked about the seven signs that you might be in trouble as a leader. I thought it would be helpful to share it with you, in case you are also interested in self-evaluating your own leadership skills. The signs are: being defensive instead of receptive, micromanaging, hoarding information, being inflexible, having tunnel vision, being egocentric, and disregarding team members’ feelings.
Has any of this sounded like you lately? If so, maybe it’s time for a little self-check!
Many people take leadership for granted, but it is important to be mindful of how you are leading yourself .The first thing any leader needs to do is a self-check. The most important question we need to ask ourselves is: “Do I have the right personality for this job?”
If you’re always late with your own responsibilities, don’t ask your team members to complete tasks in a timely manner.
If you’re always in search of a shortcut, don’t ask your team members to go above and beyond.
Don’t expect people around you to have a good mentality if you show up irritable, anxious, or sour.
Words have the ability to persuade. However, behaviors are more reliable.
The right words might entice people to come to you – pique their interest and excite them about possibilities – but it is your actions that will determine whether they stay.
Read: Leadership Lessons from Abraham Lincoln
After all, what people are concerned about is what you DO, not what you promise to do.
Ask yourself if you aren’t seeing the outcomes you desire from people around you – your team or clients – if that’s the case.
Is my conduct consistent with what I say?
Am I keeping my word?
Am I offering my clients, and particularly my team, the finest example of what is possible?
Where do I need to improve?
No, I’m not blaming you for anything. Some of these changes are good outcomes, with far more benefits than drawbacks. However, we’re all human, and at times we’ve all fallen short in our efforts to make positive improvements in the world. There’s no need to beat yourself up about it any longer!
He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander —Aristotle
Your actions will always be more convincing than your words. A strong leadership team will always be able to identify their own weaknesses and work on them. Remember that you are not the only one who sees this weakness, but your employees may give up hope in trying to help you if they see it too often. If you find yourself worrying about a certain staff member or project, take some time for self-reflection before making any final decisions. When we can admit our shortcomings as leaders, we build trust with the people around us because they know where we stand–and so do we!
What are your good qualities being talked about?