Nobody is born a leader. Leaders are made. As Vince Lombardi, the American football player and executive in the National Football League, once stated, their success is ‘made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile’. While the famous quote referred to football, it’s easier to see how you can extrapolate it to be relevant in the business world. Ultimately, Lombardi hit the nail on the head when he mentioned hard work. Becoming a leader doesn’t happen by chance. And while some individuals are better suited to the challenge than others, without putting the work to achieve their objectives, they can’t call themselves leaders. A leader, contrary to a manager, is a person who inspires the business to follow their direction. In other words, it takes a lot more than just delegating tasks to the relevant team. The real question is: What does it take to become a leader?
It’s a progressive path
The most important thing you have to note about leaders is that most have worked their way to the top. They join a company with a career plan in mind for their future and establish themselves through professional networking at every stage of their career. Ultimately, you can’t start your leadership career from the director’s office. You need to understand how a business works. You need to hone your skills, and, as Jos Opdeweegh explains, you need to balance the odds against your good fortune. By painting a parallel with the race car driving sector, Opdeweegh clarifies one key factor of quality leadership. Being good at what you do isn’t enough. You need to have the financial means to learn and expand your experience to reach the top.
The soft skills that make a difference
Theoretical and practical knowledge is important to establishing your leadership career. However, if you can’t transcend the theory with an inspirational, emotional bond, you can’t become a good leader. You need to rely on soft skills to establish your relationships with your partners and employees. Empathy is essential to make your employees feel valued and respected within your business. Your team also expects you to show responsibility when making decisions. Intuition doesn’t replace data-driven decisions. And finally, a leader should be passionate about their business, their team and their products. With passion, no obstacle is too big to stop you. And with passion, you can motivate others.
Nerves of steel
Last, but not least, if you found that dealing with your manager was stressful, you need to know that the life of a leader is paved with potentially stressful events. Indeed, you need to recognize the warning signs of anxiety and stress before they affect your mental health. It’s not uncommon for leaders to struggle with depressive disorders. But if you want to make a difference in your business and for your team, you need to develop nerves of steel. You need to be able to reflect on a situation calmly and reorient the company into a more profitable direction without losing your mind. Think of the late Steve Jobs who was able to bring Apple back to the market as an innovative and trendy industry after a drop in interest.
In conclusion, the path to becoming a leader is a long journey of honing your skills, showing your heart and keeping a cool head. It’s only the combination of the right qualities, the necessary experience and the initial investment in your career that can bring you to the top.