We tend to underestimate our daily actions as an act of leadership. We celebrate significant events, big victories, but not necessarily our small gestures that can change the face of the world. Any daily action has the possibility to change the world of a person who crosses our path. Once you recognize that ability that you have, life becomes a series of opportunities to lead.
Leaders know their goals and do small things every day to reach their goal. But it’s not always about them, and they help others to move forward in their projects, to remove their doubts so that they can take action.
In a study comparing average leaders to outstanding leaders, 90% of the variance was due to the Emotional Quotient (EQ). The most crucial factor that will predict if you step up and take the lead in life is your EQ.
If you compare people in a specific field, it is not their IQ or their personality that will make them successful; it is their EQ. This study also demonstrated that developing leadership skills without considering the cognitive strength of the student-led to minimal improvement in their abilities to lead others. For that reason, we have a whole article on self-awareness and personal growth that will help you improve your emotional intelligence.
To be a leader is to be the catalyst of a positive event for others, and thus contribute to their development, help them in a necessary decision-making process. It can seem terrifying when you realize that you have so much impact on others, without knowing it, without being aware of it. It is essential to recognize that we are influential agents, and we have an effect on the lives of others that goes beyond money and power.
When you become a leader in your life, you empower yourself to lead the life of your dream. That is the most beautiful gift you can give yourself, as you will always benefit from the skills, experiences, and knowledge you have acquired on that journey to become a great leader. Some of the benefits are:
- Lead a productive life full of abundance;
- Increase your resilience and ability to perform without feeling the pressure of stress;
- Improve your relationships and how others perceive you;
- Become a better communicator and clearly state your goals;
- Acquire self-awareness, self-confidence, and courage;
- Grow your capacity to be creative and innovative;
- Be perceived as trustworthy and competent by others;
- Be more dependable, reliable, and competent.
The Truth About Leadership
Leadership is not a natural skill in most of us. According to research, the best leaders are the ones that have a growth mindset. A growth mindset is a belief that any skills can be developed with dedication and hard work. That being said, it is a skill that you can develop and acquire with time, patience, and practice.
Leaders have a lot of influences, according to researchers, leaders’ behavior can influence the mindset of others, the environment in which they are, the cohesion and efficacy of a group, and it can even influence the amount of conflict that is experienced in the group. Even if only 10% of the population are natural leaders, we will all be asked to demonstrate leadership skills at one point in our life.
The good news is that leadership can be learned, and we hope to help you with this book. The other aspect of great leadership is their ability to be involved and engaged. All the work that you will be doing with this book will allow you to experience, first hand, what it is that you need to develop your leadership skills. Be
mindful of that experience, and do not hesitate to use that knowledge and experience in coaching others.
A study completed with 300,000 business leaders revealed the following top abilities:
- Strategic thinking
- Driving results
- Inspiring and motivating
- Communicating in a powerful and effective way
- Critical thinking, analyzing and problem-solving abilities
- Building relationships
- Demonstrating transparency, integrity, and honesty
- Displaying technical or professional expertise
- Creating and innovating
- Developing others
All these skills can be developed and utilized in various areas of your life.
