If you think you’re a great leader, then I can pretty much guarantee that you’re not! I mean, you might be, but do you really know? Arrogance is not one of the qualities of a leader.
Those of us who have the privilege, or have had the privilege, to hold a leadership role at some point in their professional career will like to think that they are good leaders. We all do.
How many times though, have you witnessed someone you are working for who clearly thinks they are ‘the best thing since sliced bread’ in the way that they are leading the team, when in reality they are someone that shouldn’t even be in charge of putting on their own socks?!
For whatever reason, these people somehow think they are great leaders, so what I would say is that we all need to take our personal view of our own skills with a huge pinch of salt, just in case we happen to be one of those leaders trying to work out which sock is for the left foot and which for the right!
We find out whether we are any good at leadership from those that we purport to lead. Your people will tell you, maybe not in words, at least not to your face (unless its a drunken ‘you’re the best boss I’ve ever had!’), how good they think you are at leading the team. They will talk about you behind your back, good or bad, they will vote with their feet, stay or leave, they will work their socks off for you, or they won’t, but ultimately you will be able to get an inkling as to whether you are any good at leading from those that you are leading.
Stop thinking you are a great leader. Stop thinking about yourself and how great you are. Instead, show some humility, read, observe, learn, lead, empathise, listen, respect, coach, mentor, support, and so much more!
Great leadership, its not difficult, but it can be hard! Keep with it, never stop learning, one day you might just get there!
A great leader…?
