Are you stepping into a leadership role? It’s normal to feel a mix of emotions ranging from excitement to worry. As a leader, you want to make an impact and achieve new horizons. Through my experience working with clients, I have identified several elements that every successful leader should solidify.
One key element is building strong relationships with your team.
Take the time to understand how they feel and prioritize their collective benefit over your own. Engage with your team by asking questions, actively listening, and providing constructive feedback. Leading by example, recognition and rewards can also boost morale and encourage growth and development.
Personal relationships with colleagues are equally important. Strike a balance between being approachable and professional. Your relationships with other leaders will determine how you handle issues and make decisions.
Investing time in understanding your personal values will help you build a solid personal brand, which will serve as a GPS as you navigate through changes and challenges.
Communicate your values, ethics, goals, and leadership style to establish a clear mission statement and create a meaningful work environment. Your determined values are your robust filter at all times and fundamental in personal brand building.
Successful leaders establish themselves with a solid personal brand, creating a culture of loyalty and providing a safe space for employees to express dissent. Cultivate humility to grow together with your team and consistently maintain your personal brand to build trust and future opportunities for your career.
The more personal brand and relationship-building you do, the more opportunities will come, and then it’s up to you to make a decision on what is for you and what doesn’t match your plan.
A good leader with a strong personal brand will have a clear mission statement; nobody, absolutely nobody, would feel safe being led by someone who is lost or doesn’t have a goal. The team needs to know that what they are doing is meaningful and brings them closer to a clear target and communicates it effectively. You must consistently have a solid personal brand to cultivate trust within your team and future opportunities for your career.
Frequently people in leadership positions need to make difficult decisions to implement new systems or changes of any sort. It’s both challenging and stressful. When you have that personal trust in your team, you will be ahead of the game and in a better position to settle and implement the change. In a highly dynamic organizational environment, relationships with leaders will determine how the reaction to the next issue/problem will look like.
You are what people think you are, not what you think you are. Your values, ethics, goals, and leadership style must be communicated so you do not get diluted or assumed.
Take cue from great business leaders, political leaders, or managers of non-profits. All of them have established a strong personal brand that sets them apart and earns the loyalty and trust of their team. As you step into your leadership role, remember that building a solid personal brand is key to your success.
Your personal brand is as unique as you are.
Nadia is a Personal Development & Career Coach; she works with people to find clarity and optimize their potential to live the life they want. Drop her an email at Nadia@shibaak.com to book a complimentary call.
