Category: Leadership

How Mentoring Can Help You Develop Your Leadership Skills

A mentor is often someone in a position who volunteers to transmit skills to up-and-coming movers and shakers in order to foster growth in their career. While taking on the mentor position is intended to benefit the mentee, it is not a one-sided experience. Being a mentor provides an incredible opportunity to improve your talents and grow as a future leader.

Learn to communicate in an open and supportive manner

Both the message sender and the message recipient must do more than simply act passively in order to communicate. You’ll become a better communicator who listens and talks with thought and regard for the other person’s comprehension as you study communication styles and how it all works.

Practice and improve your listening abilities

Mentors must pay attention to their mentees in order to understand what they require. Because listening is a skill that most people need to practice more regularly, simply needing to listen is fantastic preparation for the rest of your career. Listening entails more than simply hearing. It’s active listening with the goal of understanding, which necessitates asking questions to obtain answers.

Find out how to give constructive criticism

When mentoring someone, you must provide feedback. As a leader, you’ll be required to provide feedback to a variety of people to ensure that the influence you’re having and the outcomes you’re delivering are as good as you want them to be. However, this is a step that is frequently overlooked. When you mentor, you must do so since it is the most important aspect of the connection that you must learn to perform well. This constructive criticism will benefit you in all aspects of your leadership. 

Encourages continuous improvement

While a mentor’s primary function is to guide a less experienced individual into the meat of their career, the fact is that it also helps you to learn more. It’s easy to become trapped in old habits of doing and thinking, but when a less experienced colleague asks fresh questions based on their unique perspective of the world, you’ll be forced to master new skills that will propel your career as a future leader forward.

Forms New, Strong Relationships

Even if a mentor is perceived as being significantly ahead of their mentee in their profession, the bond you develop as you help them navigate their life and job via your expertise can be extremely beneficial to you later on. Furthermore, these relationships are developed in a mutually respectful manner, which will continue over into future opportunities.

Enhances your professional reputation

It only helps you appear better if you are recognized as the person who goes out of their way to assist others and open doors for them. As a leader, you’re not concerned about someone replacing you, and you want someone to replace you someday, so you coach future leaders.

Increases self-awareness

It feels nice to help someone somewhat behind you achieve the success you achieved so far because you get to view yourself from a different perspective. The more viewpoints you can see yourself through, the more you will understand who you are and what matters to you.

Enhances your coaching abilities

Most leaders are in charge of guiding people through a problem-solving process, although they may not know it. Once you’ve mentored someone, you’ll realize that you can apply this talent at work, in your business, and even in your personal life with your family.

Finally, mentoring can assist you in becoming a better leader. With each mentee you take on, you’ll improve your people skills and become a more informed, open, and respected leader who isn’t stuck in the old ways.

EXTRA BONUS:

If you are currently in a mentorship but have found it difficult to facilitate a consistent dialogue then I’ve provided a list of 40 Questions to Ask A Mentor.

Leadership: Courage is Calling

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

We may be inclined to think of the daring and heroic characters when we think about leaders. The army’s commander is in the trenches, leading the advance and bearing the brunt of the opposing attacks. After all, that’s what it takes to be a leader in comic books and movies!

Of course, for the vast majority of us, this is not the case. The front lines of battle for most managers means addressing business and personnel challenges on the daily.

But it doesn’t mean you can sit back and relax. Being brave and heroic is still highly essential. It’s only that this bravery will take on a new shape.

Action-Oriented Leadership

Leaders who take action are the most effective. When we lead by example, we establish a positive example for our team and encourage them to follow suit. As a result, we avoid one of the worst qualities a leader can have: hypocrisy.

Being accused of hypocrisy is one of the few things that will instantly stoke doubt and resentment in your ranks.

Nobody enjoys being asked to do something they don’t want to do because they believe their superior is either reluctant or afraid to do it. You’re in control, and that comes with a lot of responsibilities. Giving your team the worst duties and not participating in them yourself is an abuse of power.

Decisiveness

Leading by example also entails being determined. It entails being able to make a timely decision and being ready to follow through on that decision.

Many less experienced managers make the error of postponing or avoiding decision making. Their concern is that they would make the wrong decision and lose their employees’ respect as a result.

Indecisiveness, on the other hand, is worse than making an unwise or wrong decision. Indecisiveness makes you appear weak or incompetent. While taking action may have negative effects, deferring a decision will always have negative implications.

On the other hand, seeing someone who takes swift decisions and doesn’t second-guess themselves is almost always motivating. Your team members will gain confidence as a result of your decisiveness. It fosters a culture failing forward and empowers other to take ownership of mistakes.

Responsibility

What does decisiveness have to do with courage?

Simply put, it indicates you’re ready to take on the responsibilities that come with being a leader. Being a leader does not imply that you get to tell people what to do or that you get to take all the credit.

Being a leader entails taking charge of the group. It entails safeguarding them so that they may accomplish their best work. It entails making decisions and accepting responsibility for the consequences. We only delay making decisions when we don’t want to look bad… And that, in the end, is a sign of cowardice.

Stoicism

Finally, being a fearless leader entails taking the fall when things go wrong. If you make a mistake, it’s critical to not only own up to it, but also to remain calm and composed when confronted by your superiors or when the business is on the verge of failing.

All you need are these; certainty of judgment in the present moment; action for the common good in the present moment; and a attitude of gratitude in the present moment for anything that comes your way.’

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 9.6

In a crisis, it’s also critical to maintain calm. When things appear to be going poorly for the team, this means leading by example. Prevent your team from becoming panicked. Keep your cool and you’ll be able to deal with the situation effectively.

How to Be the Leader They’re Looking For

What is the source of all this bravery and stoicism? If you don’t have it naturally, how can you get it?

Is it a case of putting on a tough exterior?

Not in the least.

Being a truly great leader comes from having the right priorities. It means forgetting yourself and, instead, focusing on the goals of your organization and the happiness and comfort of your team. When you do that, it’s easy to be a courageous leader.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How can I balance being a leader with being a follower?

2. What can I do to make my leadership skills stronger?

3. Who can help me become a better leader?

A Foolproof Formula for Showing Your Boss You Have Potential

Whether you want to move up the corporate ladder to management or be chosen to lead new initiatives, demonstrating your potential to your boss is critical. Naturally, excelling at your present work is a good place to start, but advancement requires more. In fact, your supervisor is most likely analyzing you right now. According to a Harvard poll, 98 percent of organizations have some type of mechanism in place to identify top achievers, who make up around 3 to 5% of the workforce. Meanwhile, staying in those upper echelons is nearly as difficult as getting there. According to the same poll, up to 20% of these emerging stars disappear off the list each year. Start immediately to realize your ambitions. Check out these pointers to help you remain on track at every level of your career.

Displaying Your Potential Early in Your Career

Focus on fitting in and building connections while you’re new to the workplace. That preparation will lay a solid foundation for you over time.

1. Produce results. Keep track of your achievements and keep a record of them. Develop a reputation for going above and beyond and finishing tasks on schedule. Proactively I dentify problems for which you may have a solution. Naturally it would be great if your solutions were adopted, but that’s not always the goal. Sharing your voice and taking part in the solution is just as important in providing one. 

2. Back up your manager. Make an effort to make your manager look good. What goes around, comes around. You’ll have your moment to bask in the feeling of making an impact, in the meantime focus the attention upward. Check your managers priorities to determine where you can focus your efforts.

3. Focus on learning. Keep the big picture in mind as you find out all you can about your company and your industry. Ask lots of questions, be observant, and read the latest news.

4. Request feedback. You should also learn about yourself, or at leas how you’re being perceived. Invite people to express their opinions on your work. Accept constructive criticism and acknowledge your coworkers for their input.

5. Take action! You must put your learning into practice in order for them to make a difference. Analyze information to see how it may be used in real life. When you pick a coworker’s brain or attend a conference, make a list of takeaways, and then choose one that you can take immediate action on.

6. As Kendrick Lamar would put it; Be Humble!  Allow your actions to do the talking. Contribute to the team and be willing to share credit.

Displaying Your Potential Later in Your Career

Your skill as a seasoned professional is often taken for granted. Intangibles such as leadership and vision are now more likely to be valued.

1. Create a niche for yourself. Prepare to relinquish certain obligations in order to focus on your talents. Find out what you’re excellent at and what you enjoy doing. Later in your career is a great time to leverage your strengths that may not have been quite as developed earlier. 

2. Act as a role model for others. Now is the time to return the favor. Consider the attributes you appreciate in your role models and tailor them to your own personal style. Make an effort to reach out to new recruits and provide supportive comments to your coworkers.

3. Inspire others. Encourage people to achieve their goals. Allow your colleagues to learn and improve by providing them the opportunity model you. 

4. Take on the role of an mentor. When working with customers or other members of the team, your behavior reflects on your company. Make sure you understand the mission statement so you can apply the values that perpetuate the teams success.

5. Take risks. You can act like an entrepreneur even if someone else owns the company. Take sensible risks that will allow you to stretch your skills and enhance your company’s position. Start off small and learn from experience so you can fine tune your judgement over time.

Demonstrating your potential to your manager will help in your advancement and recognition. Early in your career, increasing your effectiveness is a great way to set yourself up for success. You may rely on your business acumen and strong ties to help you succeed as a leader later on.

Leadership: Giving Your Best

Some people have fame thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them.

Leaders pursue excellence. They lead their organizations, their families, their businesses, their countries, and, in fact, their very lives striving for their best.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

We are witnessing a nation, a leader, committed to excellence. A people that are giving their very best. Less than our best is inadequate, considering the fact that we have examples of others who have given us their very best.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, Whatever our role, our position, our organization, or lot in life, we should strive for the best. The measure of our success should not be attached to our particular career or what we earn but on our character and what we give.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Excellence does not mean being the best but being your best, understanding that variation makes all the difference in the world. It makes a difference in the world. Excellence is being better than you were yesterday. Excellence means matching your practice with your potential.

The past may not change as it’s being reflected upon, but a future that begins with today can certainly be changed by continually striving to be our best selves. It’s exactly that focus on the future, on being better, striving for excellence, that makes a leader.

If you want to help Ukraine below are a list of resources

(source: Washington Post)

Here’s how you can help:

  • Click on the website for Care, the international humanitarian juggernaut, and a pop-up window appears. “UKRAINE EMERGENCY,” the alert says, with a photo of a woman holding a child. “Families in Ukraine are fleeing violence and urgently need emergency aid. CARE is providing food, water, and more,” the homepage says. The group has partnered with People in Need and hopes to build a fund that can reach 4 million people, especially women, girls and the elderly. Donations for Care can be made here.
  • Doctors Without Borders, which works in conflict zones, is partnering with volunteers in Ukraine to help people travel to health-care facilities and working to ensure that people have access to health care and medicine. To support Doctors Without Borders’ Ukraine work, click here.
  • GlobalGiving, a U.S.-based nonprofit crowdfunding platform for grass-roots charitable projects, launched its Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund page, stating that all donations to the fund will support humanitarian assistance in affected communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled. You can donate here.
  • The International Rescue Committee, founded in 1933, helps those affected by humanitarian crises and works in more than 40 affected countries, as well as communities in Europe and the Americas. According to its website, the IRC is on the ground in Poland and working to help displaced families. The site offers suggestions on how you can assist Ukraine, such as welcoming refugees and social media activism. You can donate here.
  • Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross provides assistance for victims of armed conflict and has been working in Ukraine since 2014 to supply emergency assistance and support hospitals with medical equipment. To support the ICRC’s efforts in Ukraine, you can donate here.
  • Journalists with the Kyiv Independent have done tremendous work covering the war, offering the world constant updates as they fear for themselves, their families and their homes. The Independent has started a GoFundMe asking for support, but they’ve also promoted a separate GoFundMe — “Keep Ukraine’s media going” — for journalists around the country who have received less international attention. “[Ukraine’s reporters] have shown extraordinary courage, but the reality on the ground is that most operations cannot continue from Ukraine alone,” one organizer wrote. “This fundraiser is aimed at helping media relocate, set-up back offices and continue their operations from neighboring countries.”
  • Project Hope, an international health-care organization founded in the United States in 1958, works to empower health-care workers facing health crises, according to its website. For the Ukraine invasion, the organization says its emergency teams in Europe are sending medical supplies and standing by to provide health screening and care for refugees. You can donate here.
  • Razom for Ukraine was founded in 2014 and has since launched efforts to build a stronger democracy in the country. Now, according to its website, the nonprofit is “focused on purchasing medical supplies for critical situations like blood loss and other tactical medicine items. We have a large procurement team of volunteers that tracks down and purchases supplies and a logistics team that then gets them to Ukraine.” Razom — which means “together” in Ukrainian — posted a list of the lifesaving supplies it has already purchased and is asking for more support here.
  • Save the Children, founded more than a century ago, is blunt about the grueling nature of its work: “We work in the hardest-to-reach places, where it’s toughest to be a child,” its homepage says. The organization says it is “gravely concerned” for the children of Ukraine and Afghanistan. Its donation page says that $50 can prevent three children from going hungry for a month, $150 can provide warm blankets for 30 children, and $300 can furnish masks to refugee health workers on the front lines.
  • Sunflower of Peace is a small nonprofit with ambitions to help Ukrainian orphans and internally displaced people. A post on its Facebook page in mid-February said it had launched a fundraiser for first-aid medical tactical backpacks. Each backpack, it says, can save up to 10 people. They’re packed with bandages and anti-hemorrhagic medicines, among other critical items. The group has worked mostly off its Facebook page, where it’s accepting donations.
  • The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs oversees U.N. Crisis Relief, with donations going toward U.N. efforts to fund work in humanitarian crises. Primary goals include supporting lifesaving activities, filling funding gaps and expanding assistance in hard-to-reach areas, according to its website. You can donate here.
  • The World Food Programme, the U.N.’s anti-hunger humanitarian organization, has launched emergency relief operations in Ukraine and surrounding border countries. WFP says it is scaling up to provide food assistance to 3.1 million Ukrainians affected by the conflict and has deployed 400 tons of food to the Ukrainian border this week. To support their efforts, click here.
  • Voices of Children, a charitable foundation based in Ukraine, has been serving the psychological needs of children affected by the war in the country’s east since 2015, according to its website. The group’s psychologists specialize in art therapy and provide general psychosocial support with group classes or individual sessions. Many of its psychologists are based in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, areas that have long been controlled by Russian-backed separatists and that are on the front lines of the current, wider conflict. Now, Voices of Children is providing assistance to children and families all over Ukraine, even helping with evacuations. You can donate here.