What if leadership isn’t as complicated as we make it out to be?
So often, we picture some sort of power-player: connected, charismatic, large and in charge.
We think a great leader has all the right answers and is always on their A-game, because the cameras are always rolling, and the mic is always hot.
In truth, all of that is smoke and mirrors, because no one always looks, speaks, or acts perfectly.
The reality is we are all leading in some fashion with our words and behaviors, whether in our businesses, families, or leisure activities.
Fortunately, all of us have the potential to be great leaders if we just keep a few things in mind:
You Don’t Have to Have All the Answers
Don’t mistake the need for clarity for the desire to have all the answers.
We need clarity to do anything, but while we’d love to have ALL the answers, we know that no one ever does.
And that’s perfectly okay.
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What’s important is being resourceful enough to get the right answers or enlist the help of those who do.
And then, communicate what needs to be shared with clarity.
Every Decision Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect
Leadership isn’t about being perfect.
Leadership is about moving the cause forward, and the cost of indecision is usually higher than an imperfect decision.
Leadership is about keeping the end goal clearly in sight so that your actions in any given moment are in alignment with achieving the goal.
The Success of Those We Lead Doesn’t Diminish Our Leadership
Quite the opposite.
How many times have we seen someone in a leadership position clearly feeling threatened by the success or potential of someone else in the organization?
They may try and peacock a bit to outshine or, worse yet, they flat-out steal the credit for something.
It’s a bad look; it’s toxic behavior; and people will quickly see right through it.
When those we are leading shine, it demonstrates that we not only know how to spot and develop talent, but we also create an environment where they are encouraged to shine.
Learn to be okay with it.
It will make you look good.
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Leading Well Means Staying Calm in the Midst of Struggle
The way we respond to setbacks, challenges, and crises as a leader directly influences the way those we lead respond to them.
While this sounds and feels like an impossible burden, the reality isn’t so harsh if we keep things in perspective and remember that the solutions don’t always have to be found immediately and they don’t always have to resolve the situation instantly.
Depending on the situation, that kind of urgency can exist and be necessary.
However, most of the time, handling challenges can effectively and efficiently take place when we stay true to our core values and find solutions that are consistent with those.
More times than not, being mindful of where we are headed and how we will get there are far more important than how fast we are going.
Accept That Leadership Can Be Hard, But it Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
You didn’t think this was all going to be simple AND easy, did you?
Leading well can be incredibly challenging, but it doesn’t have to be overly complicated.
Leading well takes courage, discipline, and a willingness to take risks.
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As Ryan Holiday says in his book on Stoicism entitled, Courage is Calling, “We have to show, not tell: first in line for danger, last in line for rewards. First in line for duty, last in line for recognition. To lead, you have to bleed. Figuratively speaking. But sometimes also literally.”
How we lead, or fail to lead, will be on display either way.
This is just as true in the board room as the family room.
Remember to keep it simple.
Persist with the mission and resist the temptation to compromise organizational or personal values.
The more you practice these things, the easier it gets.
And the more you will be seen as a great leader.
Just make the next right choice.
Colby Richards is known as the “Master Overcomer” in his work coaching men to become better husbands and fathers and speaking to help others overcome life’s challenges. When he and his son were both diagnosed with a rare heart condition, he had a choice to make; let his diagnosis become a life sentence or go all-in achieving his potential and helping others do the same.
Colby’s powerful story of going from a 30-year career, then leaving it all to become an entrepreneur, is both inspiring and challenging. He is praised for his ability to engage the audience with a powerful blend of humor, empathy, insight, and the “what now” that audiences expect today. Discover why Colby’s approach to motivation, purpose, and work is exactly what you need right now.
Contact Information
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colbygrichards/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-richards-7a48874/
Email: colby@colbyrichards.com
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