Marshall Goldsmith said “One of the most important actions, things a leader can do, is to lead by example. If you want everyone else to be passionate, committed, dedicated and motivated, you go first!”
From the onset of discovering my leadership potential, I always knew the kind of leader I wanted to be; charismatic! How can you lead someone if you don’t know where you’re going? They say charity begins at home, so how do you display leadership in your home, school or social circles? Beware, leadership is often depicted as a glamorous lifestyle of “guiding the lost”, however it’s far from that.
You see, if you take up the mantle and lead “well”, you’re praised. In that same vain, if you lead “poorly” you’re despised and frowned upon. So then, how do you decipher between the two?
The truth is you won’t always be able to. People are different and we all share varying perspectives and opinions. What I may deem as correct or righteous, you may not and vice versa but we must all respect each other. To respect your opinion does not necessarily mean to accept it. Nonetheless, we can agree to disagree and this is important!
So again you may ask, “Well how do I win”? The truth is sometimes you will and sometimes you won’t. They key is to always be true to yourself, morals and values. Listen to those who advise you and carefully analyze what you’ve been told. Accept positive criticism and correction humbly. Always move with grace, remembering you are not perfect and it is okay to make mistakes and fall short. When you fall short admit it, move on and do better for that is the only way you will grow. Then like a domino effect, as you continue to cultivate good habits and accept your shortcomings you will truly blossom into a phenomenal leader. Remember the course of leadership, much like life is not linear but the journey is a rewarding and fruitful one.
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Tember S. Cadette is the founder and CEO of Do Something Different – also known as DSD; a non-profit operating in St Lucia and Canada.