If I know anything, I know that leadership is hard. I have a It's not enough to just cast vision to your team about greater excellence and preparation. You need to.
Table of contents
- This is what I have since learned about leadership--and what makes it so incredibly difficult
- Leadership Should Be Difficult | Refresh Leadership
- Leadership Should Be Difficult
- Leadership Is Freakin' Hard
Conflicts in the office can easily spiral out of control, leading to a toxic and unproductive work environment. Handling conflicts or disciplining employees is not an easy task, nor should it be.
Leaders are expected to use a firm, yet gentle, hand to help resolve problems and ease fears. The Professional Student In addition to managing expectations, results and people, leaders are expected to be on top of the latest training and information. While others go home at the end of the day and relax or watch their favorite show, leaders should invest in their development by reading, watching and studying as often as possible.
True leaders create more leaders. This role is a tough one to balance. On one hand, a leader must deliver results and make an impact on the success of the company; on the other hand, managers are expected to cater to different personality types and generations in the workforce in order to boost employee development.
This is what I have since learned about leadership--and what makes it so incredibly difficult
Modern leadership is more difficult now than in the past. If done right, however, the results can be rewarding, for you, your employees, and your company. I have been blessed to have been, have work with and worked for, all types of individuals from micro managers, dictators, absent managers, passive managers, active managers, educated managers, uneducated managers from one extreme to the other. I have learned that regardless of style or motive, many have been financially successful and successful in their position pursuits and corporate ladder climb.
Leadership Should Be Difficult | Refresh Leadership
They want to talk about raising huge amounts of money instead of questioning how they could achieve the same result on their own. They want to be seen as a leader instead of mastering the one thing that actually makes a leader a real leader:. This is where most leaders fail, and I see it happen every single day.
The moment someone moves into a position of leadership, the person believes that everyone else should accommodate his or her needs--when actually it's the opposite.
As a leader, it's up to you to put yourself second, and operate in a way that allows others to feel at ease, to feel understood, and to work in the way that's best for them--even if it's not the way you operate. Some people are extreme go-getters. Others require a nudge in the right direction. Some people respond well to harsh criticism and actually thrive off being told all the things they're doing wrong--it gets them fired up. Other people need much more positive reinforcement, and to be given the space to come to those conclusions on their own.
Where self-proclaimed leaders fail is in thinking that however they operate, everyone else should as well.
They forget that "different" does not necessarily mean "wrong," and what motivates them isn't what's going to motivate everyone else. Leadership, then, is the art of flexibility. It's being able to adjust and communicate in different ways, specific to each person. People are comfort-seeking creatures.
Leadership Should Be Difficult
But because people grow, progress, and evolve in a zone of discomfort, the harsh reality is, your job as a leader is to make people uncomfortable. People get mighty upset when you make them uncomfortable. The Cavalry Isn't Coming: You'll often feel under siege by the challenges you're facing. Regardless, you'll be expected to bring them to resolution - without the aid of a handbook. With no cavalry to rescue you, you're forced to grope your way through, often making things up as you go along. Often you'll feel like a fake on the inside while portraying confidence on the outside.
So why put yourself through all the hardship and criticism?
The answer is found in the most satisfying result of a leader's impact: In my work as an author and leadership consultant , I've had the privilege of working with thousands of leaders throughout the world. One question I often ask leaders is this: At the end of your leadership career, what will have made the challenge of leadership all worthwhile? By far the most frequent answer goes something like this: When you are privileged to be lead others, your influence can impact the trajectories of people's entire careers, potentially helping them become more courageous, just and humane.
When done right, the best of you may bring out the best in others. In the process, they may become inspired to lead too. The pain associated with enduring the hardships of leading others is offset by the satisfaction of making a positive difference for the people and organization you serve. Starting with a presumption that leadership is hard helps to mitigate over-confidence, inspire earnest preparation, and activate a deeper and more authentic commitment to lead.
Ultimately, by soberly and thoughtfully assessing how freakin' hard leadership is, you'll stop freaking out about having to lead.
Leadership Is Freakin' Hard
In his newest book, Leaders Open Doors , became the top-selling leadership training book on Amazon. Bill is also the author of Courage Goes to Work , an international bestselling book that introduces the concept of courage-building. Learn more at www.
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