As an individual with a desire to be of service to more people through my business, I got into researching and contemplating the topic of leadership. What does it mean to be a leader? What is it that inspires people to take action and ignites them to think differently? How can I communicate with the public effectively and authentically?
These were the questions that occupied my mind at the beginning of this year.
When you learn about leadership, you learn about yourself!
To begin my journey, I looked through many books to gather diverse perspectives on leadership, as well as to find out what resonates with me personally.
Books are great, but the actual development of leadership skills comes from real life experiences. I definitely learned a great deal when I started to write for the public and take up opportunities to speak from a stage. I found that being genuine and heart-centered is a pillar in my foundation as a leader.
From this experience I discovered that developing leadership skills is not only about mastering how to influence others, but also – and I strongly believe this is equally important – growing as a person.
And this is what I want to share with you – things that shook my comfort zone:
1. There is always a chance that someone will not like you, someone will oppose you, or someone will have judgments about you. Learn to receive any kind of feedback.
I remember the first time my writing appeared in a big newspaper, my body was literally trembling when I opened the newspaper to see the published article. My mind was full of fear that someone would read it and not like it.
If you are on the path to step-up as a leader or an expert in your industry, you will probably interact with the public, whether through writing or through speaking. This means that you will receive different feedback (positive and negative) regarding your ideas, style, or personality.
Staying calm in the storm is about being well-grounded. Getting clear on your core values, the purpose of your leadership and your vision of desired impact will help you with that. So no matter what happens, you know WHAT you strive to accomplish and WHY.
2. It’s about addressing the pink elephant in the room.
Obviously when you deal with people from diverse backgrounds, misunderstandings and conflicts are inevitable. The key here is to address it openly, even if it’s a place of vulnerability for you.
This is what I had to work on. Honestly, (I am being vulnerable here) I used to behave “nice” to avoid conflicts or awkward situations. The thought of confrontation used to freak me out. Then bit by bit I began to change my perception of confrontation. I chose to see it as an opportunity to enrich my relationships with people through uncomfortable conversations.
3. It’s fine to receive kudos.
One of the workshops on public speaking I attended this year was devoted exactly to this practice. Throughout the session we practiced receiving a round of applause from the audience after giving our little talks.
I found it extremely useful because most of us (including myself) have a tendency to run away after delivering a speech. Sometimes it’s because we’re too critical of ourselves. Sometimes it’s because we feel guilty for standing out. Yet a graceful reception of applause from an audience is a powerful close to any speech or presentation.
It is not arrogant to receive love from people. It is simply creating a space for others to express their appreciation.
The topic of leadership is huge. Do you want to share or discuss? I am open to conversations. Let’s grow together.