No matter how well you do your job and no matter how much skill and knowledge you have acquired, it is always possible that you do not fully use your leadership potential.
If you suspect that you have untapped potential, but do not know how to develop it, there are a few things you should do:
If you do not know yourself well
Self-knowledge is key to a leader’s success. If you want to understand, motivate and inspire others, you must first start with yourself. Seek the opinion of a mentor or coach to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, your leadership style, and the skills you should acquire.
If you are self-absorbed
Effective leaders spend much of their time thinking about finding the best ways to support, learn, and guide employees. Good leadership relies heavily on believing in others and revealing their abilities. If these are not your priorities at the moment, then you need to stop focusing mainly on yourself and focus on others.
If you have a negative mindset
Left unattended, pessimism can become a serious problem. This is especially true for leaders, who need to reassure their subordinates with their optimistic attitudes. You must not forget that thoughts grow into actions, but actions into habits that play a key role in unleashing your full potential. Positive thinking is a hallmark of successful leadership.
If you bet safely
In my years of working as a professional coach, I have noticed that few things limit a person’s leadership potential from safe betting. Getting out of your comfort zone and taking risks is the only way to develop and grow in leadership. The leader must be able to make difficult decisions and know how to communicate bad news to his employees.
If you do not follow your values
People do not become great leaders because they are ambitious or committed to the pursuit of success. They become such because they do not compromise their values and base their every action and decision on them. When you follow your values, no matter how much it may cost you, you are protecting your identity. Then making difficult decisions becomes easier, and the well-being of the people around you becomes your priority.
The best leaders start by understanding themselves and finding the gaps they need to fill. They work on their ways of thinking and attitudes and over time realize that leadership is about serving others while you better yourself.
