LEADERSHIP
Three Keys to Leading
Learning how to trust , be vulnerable and listen well can make you a better leader
BY Tina Reynolds
SHUTTERSTOCK ILLUSTRATION
Some people are natural-born leaders , some learn leadership skills , and others fall into it . When you are in the position of being the boss , are you bossing people around , or are you leading them ? With more than 40 years of owning my own businesses , I ’ ve learned a thing or two about leadership — actually , I ’ ve learned three : trust , vulnerability and listening .
This pursuit of leadership all started with a few simple words that I have lived with for a very long time : “ How can I help you ?” This simple statement has set me up to guide and lead people . I didn ’ t start saying it with the goal of becoming a leader ; I started saying it simply because I wanted to help people . And , over time , I became really good at helping my team and my community , so good that others started to head my way when something needed to be done . They knew if they had a problem , I would listen and share some core thoughts about similar situations that I have walked through .
Be vulnerable
Being vulnerable doesn ’ t mean you need to reveal deeply personal things about yourself . It means you simply need to show up genuinely in every
24 comstocksmag . com | February 2021