A position does not automatically make you a leader. Having the title, “CEO” or “Boss” or “President” does not necessarily mean you are a leader. There are certain things that I believe people must do in order to be considered a true leader.
If you…
- are ok with status quo, you are not a leader.
- don’t seek continuous education, you are not a leader.
- don’t roll up your sleeves and dig in right along with those you lead, then you are not truly a leader.
- take credit for work your team does, you don’t deserve to be called a leader.
- always believe your ideas are the best, you are not a leader.
- carry jealousy when people work their way to more success than you, you are not a leader.
Leaders are never ok with status quo. They strive for continuous improvement of themselves, their team, their work. They seek education for themselves and their team because they know there is always more to learn. There is always someone smarter, and they can accept that but will keep pushing for more knowledge. Leaders will do what needs to be done. When necessary, a leader will roll up his/her sleeves and work right along with everyone else on any task that needs attention. Any task. A leader gives credit where due and understands success takes a team. A leader accepts ideas from others and knows how to nurture and grow the ideas, even when they are not his/her own. A leader isn’t jealous when someone follows his/her dreams, even if that person ends up in a higher position, making more money, or happier than the leader. A leader is happy for that person.
Leadership takes practice. It takes patience and courage. Leadership takes self reflection and brutal self-honesty. Not everyone can be called a leader when he/she has what should be a position of leadership. Don’t be that person who holds a role of a leader but isn’t truly a leader. And don’t be the organization that puts people in leadership roles who really shouldn’t be there.