I find it’s not the huge actions that create an extraordinary leader, at least from the person being lead. The big actions are the results of many smaller actions that lead to an extraordinary leader.
Image by JD Hancock
To truly be a great leader, you’ve got to do work on the simple matters. Little things too many people overlook because they want to be seen as great, right away.
Let’s look at 3 ways you can become an extraordinary leader.
1. Thank your team: The company my wife works for held an annual Christmas party where they thanked their team. They fed them, gifted them, and thanked them.
This left both my wife and I feeling overwhelmed, to the point of tears.
The simple act of a Christmas party thanking everyone left such a lasting impression on our lives. My wife felt her hard work was appreciated and so is the work of the rest of the team.
You’ll be amazed how far a little thank you will go.
2. Listen to your team: You may be the leader but you don’t have all of the answers. There are surprising insights that you can gain if you stop to listen to your team.
Ask questions and discover what the needs are. Discover what the struggles of your team are. Discover what others are noticing.
You won’t always be able to see what needs to be done. Your position is quite different from the person on the front line.
And because of that, there’s no better person to ask than the person doing the work. Ask and listen. You may get the breakthrough you’ve been desiring.
3. Educate your team: Having ignorant team members hinders the ability of your company to be world-class. Instead of keeping your team in the dark, begin educating them on the inner-workings of the business.
Help them rise above their current level. Help them develop new skills. Help them to grow into new positions.
Realize extraordinary leadership isn’t world changing, at least in the actions you take. To become an extraordinary leader, it’s about taking the small steps and focusing on your team.
When you begin to do this, you’ll rise from an ordinary leader to a leader who changes the world one person at a time.
Question: What do you do to be an extraordinary leader? Please share your secret in the comment section below.
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.