Our contradictions, weaknesses and excesses are often the
source of our greatest strength. This makes more sense
when you consider that leadership, by definition, is not about
fitting in, but standing out. Being different. Not hiding it, but
cultivating it.
that makes these leaders unique. They
did not rise because they were perfect;
rather, they became leaders because
they drew energy from something
inside or outside themselves that was
outside of the conventional notion
of being normal. They compensated,
often in excess, far beyond the norm.
This is the paradox of leadership and
great leaders. Our contradictions,
weaknesses and excesses are often
the source of our greatest strength.
This makes more sense when you
consider that leadership, by definition,
is not about fitting in, but standing
out. Being different. Not hiding it, but
cultivating it.
Here are five simple tips for emerging
leaders to be different — to give rise
to the leader within.
Listen completely. That was the
advice Ernest Hemingway offered to an
aspiring writer. “When people talk, listen
completely. Don’t be thinking what
you’re going to say. Most people never
listen.” Don’t be most people. Today’s
hectic pace of life, shrinking attention
spans and background noise make
listening hard. Give your full attention
to those whom you’re with. Listening
(and watching) is how empathy
happens, and when we empathize, we
understand the plight of those around
us, fostering breakthrough insights
that can improve our world.
Ask questions. Many people don’t
do this. They assume the first answer
is the only answer and then move on.
Questions spark curiosity, curiosity
creates ideas, and ideas lead to innovation.
They help you understand a thing
more deeply, how it’s connected to
other things and how to adapt quickly.
Leaders love “why” questions the most.
Seek mentors. Imagine getting
smart advice, guidance, encouragement,
exposure, visibility and networking
help from someone you trust
— for free. A mentor can help you
learn faster than just books or your
own experience. Some say there are no
shortcuts in life. Wrong. Mentorships
are the biggest life hack I know.
Find your mission. Most people
live small. They get up, go to work,
come home, play and repeat this cycle
the next day. It’s not necessarily a
bad way to be, but it is the status quo.
Leaders are driven by something larger
than themselves to improve the status
quo. Find your mission.
Don’t wait. Many people wait to
give back — “after I get my degree,
once I get settled, after I find a partner,
when the kids are old enough” — but
today’s challenges won’t wait. You
shouldn’t wait either. Albert Einstein
said that compound interest was the
eighth wonder of the world. Small,
incremental changes have a way of
growing exponentially into something
big. The world needs fresh thinking
from people who are a little bit not
right. Start now.
The paradox of leadership was
summed up beautifully by my friend
and mentor Marian Kaanon, the
president and CEO of the Stanislaus
Community Foundation. Having been
a young leader herself, I asked what
advice she would give her 25-year-old
self. “There will be many times that
you feel uncertain or scared, but show
up anyway,” she says. “Seek the wise
counsel of others, but cultivate your
own inner wisdom too. Be humble in
your seeking and courageous in your
doing. It’s OK to not know most of the
answers. But don’t stop asking.” Wise
advice indeed.
Bill Mueller is a partner in Integrated
Communications Strategies, a strategic
advisory firm based in Sacramento. He
is the former CEO of the civic leadership
group Valley Vision, an American
Leadership Forum senior fellow, and
assists leaders across California. He can
be reached at [email protected].
What are your experiences
being a mentor for an emerging
leader?
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