Good Leaders Make it All About Themselves

Ha, well I thought that title might catch your attention! No, it isn’t a typo. Good leaders do make it about themselves from time to time, and they should. The ones who don’t will hinder their leadership influence.

The journey through leadership development includes various glass ceilings. We’ve all hit them. Some of us tap them, re-adjust, and learn how to lift that glass ceiling higher. Some of us hit the ceiling so hard that we about knock ourselves out. It’s called the glass ceiling because we don’t see it coming. When we hit it, we’re confused, and that’s when we make the mistake of deflecting. The most common deflection is highlighting the shortcomings of another teammate or another business. Growing leaders look at themselves first!

So what!

Who cares that someone else did whatever. Stop letting their actions overshadow your growth. Look at yourself and focus on lifting your ceiling. Pointing out the faults of others, holding grudges, or holding teammates back doesn’t raise your ceiling. Regroup and focus on YOU.

We never stop!

Learning is a talent, and it’s a talent that should never stop no matter our age or experience. Overly confident people stop learning. People of ego stop learning. Thinking you’re a good enough leader stops your learning. Learning is listening, not talking. Learning is being observant even in the busyness.

No pain, no gain!

Just this week I thanked two key leaders in our organization for sticking it out. When the going gets tough (and oh yes it will), the great ones see it through. They don’t run from the discomfort, from the hurt feelings of critical growth conversations, from the addition sacrifices that come with leading, from the disappointments, or from the dues that have to be paid. The best ones kept going. That’s why they’re great, and it’s why they can help others through it.

Your growth – and the opportunities and rewards that come with it – is yours to own. What ceiling have you hit, and what can you do to lift it?


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