Leadership is a constant process of creative design
The journey of leadership starts with an inner desire. An inner compass that starts to prickle our heart with compassionate ideas to make life better. Our mind begins to be occupied with visions and dreams of a better world. We start to take risks. Some risks pay off in the beginning and others don’t. Because we are filled with energy and determination, we keep going. For a while this inner motivation keeps propelling us forward. Then after a while, because of the many disappointments we start to question things. This questioning is not bad at all. Actually, it is very good and healthy for us. Here is the danger, we can begin to question our identity and even our competency as a leader.
After all of this, leaders still have an inner desire to lead. They see the next opportunities to lead, but might hold back to move to the next phase of their leadership because of the past experiences. Various reasons hold them back, the failing leadership examples they have seen. Leaders who proclaimed to be leaders, but turned out to be dictators. Other examples they saw had character failures and still others are still leading in a poor manner. With all these reasons I can understand why some might want to hold back. I understand why they might feel like just fading into the background.
But I can tell you for sure, you should not hold back. Why? Because you have been uniquely woven to lead. Don’t look at the stereotypes in the media. Don’t let people tell you if you are a leader or not. Just start to lead into your next phase. You will soon see you are designed to lead. Let your fruit speak for itself. I can promise you, nothing else will give you more fulfilment.
The mastery of your leadership does not lie in your copy and paste ability. Learn from other leaders, don’t copy. Learn how they developed their style of leadership. Learn how they mastered the C-Suite competencies. See how they are comfortable with being themselves. You have been created not to mimic others, but to display the unique flavour of the “discipline” of leadership that only you can display.
Look inwards and not outwards. Get to know yourself. Take time to design your style of leadership. Try things out. Have fun in failing and learning. Learn to sculpt your own image and style into the forest of leadership. Take up the lifelong journey of leadership. Fine-tune your craft of leadership, not in one day, but in one lifetime, your lifetime.
So, will you take up the challenge for the sake of the challenge or will you go to your grave wondering what could have happened if you just took that next step to lead?
The challenge is yours. Keep going in your life journey as a leader.
Get your copy of the new e-book “Sailing into unknown waters”!
Sincere greetings,
Xpand South Africa Team
Empowering individuals and organizations to grow and fulfill their destiny.
