When you hear the word “leadership” what is the first thing that comes to mind? The President, a CEO, a coach? Actually, anyone can be a leader—everyone has the capability to influence others—you do not need to have a title or label—just the ability to be a positive force of change.
Today, February 20th is “National Leadership Day” founded in 2021 by the Maxwell Leadership Enterprises, but first recognized in 2022. Their goal is to train people to become better leaders by helping them realize the impact and value they have to be a good leader.
You may have heard the term “born leader” and wondered what that really means. Basically, it refers to people who instinctively have the ability to inspire and encourage others to believe in their vision and help achieve their collective goals. However, even born leaders need to continually improve their management skills by identifying and developing new practices. Let’s take a closer look at “born leaders” by identifying six qualities they possess:
- Find meaning and purpose in their work
- Great listeners
- They do not overwork themselves
- Constantly learn new things
- Have self-confidence
- Unite employees
You many not think you are a born leader; however, you may be a leader and not even know it. Do you keep an open mind and seek opinions from others? Do you offer advice and sometimes counsel? Are there people who count on you? Do people confide in you and you listen intently? Are you a positive, confident, and compassionate person? If you genuinely care about others and treat them with respect, then you can consider yourself a leader. Even if you do not have all of these qualities, by improving your skills you can learn to be a leader if you develop and/or improve the right skills. Just following these few tips can help you achieve your goal:
- Focus on improving key leadership skills such as: active listening, empathy, critical thinking and conflict resolution.
- Know your leadership style and mix styles to get the best results.
- Develop a clear vision—one that includes your core values and company objectives.
- Choose a leadership mentor who can serve as a guide throughout your career and offer to share their experiences.
National Leadership Day acknowledges the power of leadership and recognizes the impact leaders make in people’s lives; therefore, we would like to thank Dr. Mary Hawkins, President of Bellevue University, for being a great leader who possesses all of the qualities mentioned above. She is supportive of every department, sincerely cares about each and every one who works there, and is a true mentor in every sense of the word.
If you are interested in leadership, you can check out these resources:
Center for Association Leadership
Global Leadership Organization