If you are looking to develop your skills, and you have dreams of being in charge of a team or running your own business, it’s so important to think about the importance of leadership skills. And when you believe that you’ve got a long way to go until you become a leader, and you don’t think you have the skills, it’s about remembering that everybody had to learn to step into these shoes. And this means you’ve got time as well. What can you do to become a leader when you don’t think you have the skills?
Commit to Growth
The most important thing you can ever do if you want to become a leader is to actually commit to it. There are so many lessons in life that come from giving commitment to something. There are people who developed their skills and geared themselves towards leadership when they didn’t have any experience. It can be as simple as starting to put your hand up in class or think about an idea that you want to pitch in your office. But you have to commit to it. And it’s important to remember that when you commit to growth, that it’s not going to happen overnight. If you look at the website dedicated to the career of Phil Lamb of Arizona, he gradually moved from law towards his desire to pursue management and it’s something that we all need to learn. Committing to growth is about also giving yourself time to grow. People feel that they don’t have time to develop and want to achieve their ambitions quickly. But time is always on our side.
Rehearse the Mindset
Leaders don’t always fall out of the sky fully formed. Everybody has had to prepare themselves. And it’s something that you need to remember. When you look at countless interviews with people in positions of power or performers, they all had to prepare themselves for the moment of stepping into the spotlight. Look at sportspeople, they have to prepare the mind and body so they can do their best. And the same thing applies to you. When you start to prepare yourself, you are actively training your mindset. There are people that do this in little ways such as positive self-talk or even meditation. But what you can also do is start by writing a shared purpose statement. This gives you the opportunity to write down your purpose but also removes defensive barriers to your abilities.
Always Be Learning
Take the opportunities where you can to see leadership lessons. Even if you like watching sports, or there’s a documentary on Netflix, there is always a lesson to be learned. And it’s a simple habit that you can do. Pulling leadership lessons from the things you consume every day will give you simple and straightforward advice.
Becoming a leader isn’t something that happens overnight, but it can yield so many positives in your life. You can feel more alive and have a purpose. If you think that you don’t have the skills, they are always there for the taking.