[March 2, 2018] It doesn’t matter if you are a man, woman, or child, getting ready to lead involves preparation to convince people to do things they would not ordinarily do. But … for the majority of people, they think that once they get into a leadership position someone will teach them how to lead people; this is wrong. Getting ready to lead is a task of utmost importance and begins ahead of time.
Getting ready to lead means preparation-preparation-preparation.1 There is no other way to say it – so get ready. Remember that any person can lead; anybody as long as they have the will to do so and have the passion to prepare themselves. There are no exceptions to this rule of thumb and even the most underrated individual could step up to be the greatest leader in a generation.
Here are a few ways to get ready to lead:
Develop good personal routines and leader habits. This may seem to be commonsensical but the most common mistake of those readying themselves is to fail to focus on doing things right, the right way. I have s series on good habits for leaders and they can be found here at www.theLeaderMaker.com (just search for ‘good habits’).
Obtain credentials. It’s a fact that organizations want to see what you have accomplished in your formal education and in leadership outside the workplace. College degrees, professional accreditations, and advanced formal leadership training are part of overcoming the bureaucracy of leadership. Being a leader outside is also helpful, like being a Scout Leader or kids basketball coach.
Network with leaders. You need to know people and, more importantly, people need to know you. This means face-to-face methods of showing people you are able and willing to take on leadership roles; difficult and hard roles that others aren’t inclined to do. This means talking to everyone, getting to know people and making them feel you are a good person, and being friendly, outgoing, and (of course) trustworthy in all things you do.
Get a mentor. Of all the things that leadership depends upon is getting a mentor as early as possible. This must be a person who is willing to tell you the truth about yourself and someone who has the knowledge and connections to help you. Mentor’s don’t usually get assigned to non-leaders or junior leaders. This is where networking and a positive personality helps.
Being a leader is about preparation but it also means understand large, complex organizations and the folks that work where you are. Learn about it, don’t shrink from responsibility, maintain your integrity, and always be seen as trying to make yourself a better person. That is how getting ready to lead works.
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- The assumption that leadership is learned behavior is fundamental to those who wish to improve upon their leader skills. We all have leader skills, whether we realize it or not. Some folks have more than others. Some have bad leader skills, like narcissistic traits that both enhance and detract from leadership.
Way too many leaders get into their jobs and perform poorly because they were intellectually lazy and didn’t prepare themselves. I recommend the Boy Scouts for the very reason their motto is “be prepared”. Leaders must be prepared, else they will either fail or at least make things difficult for their subordinates. This doesn’t just apply to the military but to all of us in every walk of life.