Building your leadership track record
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ChatGPTThe best way to predict what kind of leader someone will be is to examine their track record. How have they led previously?
Most politicians promise to be good leaders if they are elected. Once they are, they often fall disappointingly short of their campaign rhetoric. They are all talk but no action. Beware of aspiring leaders who promise to start leading once they are hired! Better to choose people who have led effectively in every previous role.
Some people are innately wired to lead. They can't help it. As children, they organize various games on the playground. As entry-level employees, they discover more efficient ways to complete their work. Everywhere they look, they notice ways things could be improved. When a problem arises in their church, HOA, or family, they typically step up (or get enlisted) to address the issue. People instinctively recognize that these natural leaders are people who get things done.
If you aspire to lead at a higher level, begin by leading at your current level. While riding in an Uber the other day, I asked my driver about his aspirations. He said he'd love to be a business leader but that it was difficult to enter that field without prior leadership experience. I told him he already was a CEO. He was the Chief Operating Officer of his own life. He made all his own purchasing decisions, scheduled his calendar, and managed his relationships. He was responsible for the healthy maintenance of his body, vehicle, and residence. He already carried a great deal of responsibility. If he dressed sloppily, neglected his vehicle, was out of shape, or had poor people skills, then he would probably continue to have difficulty breaking into the leadership field. If he couldn't lead himself well, why would people trust him to lead their company? If he managed his own life well, he was far more likely to achieve future leadership success.
Don't wait until you have a large role before you start leading. Become known as someone who routinely exceeds expectations and delivers quality work. Go the extra mile. Solve problems. Don't make excuses.
One of the best ways to gain leadership experience is by volunteering. Teach a children's Sunday school class at your church. Lead a Bible study. Volunteer in your neighborhood or at your children's school. Look for a problem and then solve it!
Through the years, I have watched many people lead in church. Some people would chair a committee, but their committee rarely met or accomplished anything. At times, they would give a report and essentially explain that they hadn't done anything since giving their previous report. Though they might be nice, well-intentioned people, they were clearly not leaders. If they couldn't lead well as a volunteer, they probably didn't have the skill set or personality to lead well in the marketplace either. The familiar adage tends to be true: "If you want to get something done, ask a busy person to do it!" People who know how to get things done can typically add one more thing. People who accomplish little struggle to do anything more.
If you are still building your career, remember that someone will eventually be scrutinizing your resume. What will they see? Will they notice that you don't lead outside of your job? Will they recognize that you lead at multiple levels, both as a paid employee and as a volunteer? Is it clear that you are wired to lead? Are you a problem solver? Do you naturally make things better? Be aware that you are constructing a track record that someone will ultimately examine.
If you want to be asked to lead one day, start leading today. Countless problems are plaguing society. Select one. Address it. Lead well. People will be grateful you did. And one day, someone may ask you to solve one of their problems at work. Start preparing for that day now.
 | Richard Blackaby is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs and business leaders. He has written or co-authored 33 books . This article was first published on RichardBlackaby.com. Used with permission from Blackaby Ministries International. Learn More » |
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