I love lists, so here is another one. 5 activities that you can “wash, rinse and repeat” every day to help you to become a more effective leader.
1. Wake Up Early on a Set Schedule
Getting yourself into a flow can be quite effective in increasing productivity and developing leadership skills. There is much to be said about capitalizing on momentum. Momentum is a powerful driver of innovation as you are continually pushed forward by the added force given each and every time you hit a small milestone. The thing about momentum, however, is that it needs to be cultivated and maintained. You can keep yourself in this flow by getting up early at the same time every day. Get yourself into this habit so you can keep the focus on slowly but surely driving toward your goals. Within each and every morning is found new opportunity, so make the most of your day by getting up early and maximizing your time. Once you’re riding up the wave, you’re not going to want to get off. So get up early every day, stay in that flow and avoid wiping out!
2. You Are What You Eat – What’s Goes Into You is What’s Going to Come Out!
Another step you can take in the morning to better yourself is by eating a healthy breakfast. A popular saying is that what goes into a man is that which comes out of him. With this in mind, let’s put some thought about the substances we introduce to our bodies. As leadership requires energy, you should make your food choices wisely. If your diet is poor, this may end up reflecting in your work. While people who are in a rush toward success may neglect this facet of leadership, it is pivotal. Successful people know that their diet is part and parcel of the overall plan of success. Make sure to include a variety of foods in your diet, don’t overindulge and yes, a little bit of coffee goes a long way.
3. Visualize a Successful Day – Prepare Yourself Mentally
Much of success is found in the mind and in the will. If you feel like a successful person, better yet, if you know in your heart of hearts that you are a leader, than your outward life will begin to reflect the mentality. You should start you day by imagining that you will meet your goals and that opportunity will present itself. If you feel that you don’t have what it takes to succeed, than you have already defeated yourself in your own mind. Success, on some level, is a competition, but it’s not one you wage with other people, rather, it’s one you wage with yourself. A worthy leader is one who knows innately that he or she has the skills for the task. When you wake up in the morning, be of this positive mindset and prepare for a great day.
4. Make a List of Your Goals for the Day
For practical purposes, a good leadership trait is to set small, reasonable and attainable goals every morning before you start your work. To have these goals “set in stone,” it helps to write them down; in this way, you can have something tangible that more firmly establishes the tasks you would like completed. If you’re too limited in your goal setting, you may find that you’re not getting anything done. If your goals are a bit too lofty, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment when you do not reach them. The trick is to find a healthy balance in your goal setting – by meeting them each day, you effectively keep the flow going that brings you closer to your dreams.
5. Relax! Trust Yourself and Your Abilities
It is important that you find time to relax. Part of being a leader is knowing when to call it quits for the day. Believe in yourself. The things you failed in today and can be improved upon tomorrow. If you are going nonstop, you are going to burn out! Don’t shoot yourself in the foot – you aren’t God, so you must find time to rest. The greatest leaders of history, including the famous war strategist Sun Tzu knew that there was a time and place for “retreat.”
Remember, you don’t know what troubles tomorrow is going to bring you. But remember that you are still alive, so you are doing something right! As you become more consistent in meeting your goals, you will be able to rest easier at night – you will develop faith in your own abilities, even when things outwardly don’t seem to be going to well. So get some shut eye and tomorrow begin anew.
Summary
Leadership skills can be developed with time and patience. One thing to keep in mind in that order to be a good leader, you must be a good follower. Humility involves learning from the masters and respecting the abilities of those who have already been in your shoes. Great leaders lead from the front and do not simply hide behind their troops. A true leader doesn’t just dictate commands, he or she leads by example.
Leave a Reply