I was reminded the other day of an important and well-known, but often-forgotten fact: A title does not a leader make. Anyone in the organization can be a leader; especially, if the organization celebrates and encourages leadership from its employees.
As I have advanced in my career, I have watched colleagues from every level in my organization exhibit leadership qualities. Traits I observed weren’t necessarily always bold and obvious; they were sometimes as subtle as making space for a quiet person in a meeting, being courageous enough to speak up with a new idea, or following through on something that was promised. These and other qualities such as attitude, action, behavior, empathy, integrity and drive will earn someone respect as a leader, and can be practiced regardless of where you sit in your organization.
Let’s discuss two traits in particular: attitude and drive. Something as simple as having a positive attitude can make you a stronger leader. Remember your attitude can have a big impact; it’s like bringing the weather with you as you interact with your team and walk around the organization. We all know someone who we just like being around. Why is that? Chances are it’s because they bring the sunshine with them. Being around them makes you inspired, creative, productive, and happy. On the flip side, we all know someone whose cubicle or office we walk quickly past hoping to not have to stop because they’re bringing that cloudy weather with them. It can sap your energy, and make you feel negative and grumpy about your job.
Great leaders also have drive! They are always curious and learning. This can include the obvious, like professional development, research and keeping up on industry trends. But it also includes learning from those around you. In my previous role as an Assistant City Manager, I was tasked with creating opportunities for our executive team to learn from each other. We would regularly gather outside of work to share our successes and lessons learned. We also gathered formally, off-site once a year for a multi-day retreat. Often this would be facilitated by an expert who guided us through different topics rooted in organizational excellence and leadership. We left those sessions focused, invigorated and with deeper trust in our teammates.
I get to be the facilitator these days. It is now my chance to swoop in and offer my knowledge and experience about leadership to teams of all types. If you see a need for leadership curation in your agency, don’t hesitate to give me a call. Regardless, go out there and bring that good weather with you!
Bringing the sunshine,
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