Leadership: What Does the Road to Success Look Like?

Would you say that you were born to be a leader? Or do you pride yourself in working your way up the ladder to redefine the process and establish your leadership skills?

While it’s true that innate charisma and instincts help you establish a reputation as an effective and respected leader, it isn’t the only factor needed to succeed. There should be a healthy balance between who you are, what you learn, and how you act and adapt.

Regardless of whether your leadership skills are innate or learned, there’s one thing that all successful leaders agree on. That is, in Dr. Stephen Covey’s timeless words, to begin with the end in mind. Everything happens twice: First, in your mind, then in the physical reality. Visualize your desired outcome, then build a clear, proactive plan to make it happen.

So how do you develop leadership skills?

Leadership Success is Never Circumstantial – it Starts With a Plan

Some people attribute their success to luck – such as opening the right business in the right place at the right time. But that is not entirely true. 

Let’s take Steve Jobs as an example. He didn’t invent the wheel, but he undeniably reinvented it. He emphasized accessibility and simplicity in technology, and, consequently, changed the way we use computers and smartphones today.

Another example is Estée Lauder, who developed a timeless line of skincare and makeup products, later on expanding to fragrance and hair care products. She combined what she learned from her uncle’s chemistry products with her own entrepreneurial knack to establish what is now a multinational beauty brand.

Nothing is ever circumstantial; success stems from a concrete plan backed by market research and competitive analysis. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself wasting time and resources trying to reach intangible goals. But be careful not to be too bound to your plan; your greatest hindrance might stem from not leaving room for flexibility.

Let’s take one of the mantras of esteemed business executive Ron Williams: “Don’t get stuck in paralysis by analysis.” The best leaders are confident about what they want to achieve. But they never fail to keep an open mind, learn from the people around them, and adapt to any situation thrown their way. If you think too much about what you want to happen, you’ll simply waste your time and miss opportunities staring you in the face.

But that’s only scratching the surface of what it takes to succeed in leadership.

Leaders Realize the Value of Mentorship and Feedback

Hard work, discipline, curiosity, continual learning, smart career choices, careful business decisions, and alright, maybe a little bit of luck—armed with these elements, you’re likely to thrive as a leader. However, don’t forget about feedback and mentorship.

A mentor can offer a fresh perspective that allows you to surpass setbacks and stay away from avoidable challenges. They’re a valuable asset that can expand your professional network and provide the advice you need to make the right decisions.

“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.”

– Bob Proctor

Take a look at Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who started out as a pair of computer scientists dabbling in the inner workings of a search engine. 

They weren’t businessmen. But when they realized their potential as a multi-million dollar organization, they brought in Eric Schmidt who they believed was a good cultural fit, armed with an open-minded business outlook. The founders were able to focus on streamlining Google’s technology while Schmidt expanded the corporate infrastructure.

A mentor doesn’t necessarily tell you what to do. They often simply serve as your sounding board who can help you develop your business ideas.

Your mentor may help you realize your potential. However, what you do with your talent and how you choose to capitalize on them will ultimately depend on your actions.

Self-awareness is an Irreplaceable Trait

Self-awareness is an essential trait and one of the most valuable tools that will cement your legacy as a leader. Acknowledge your strengths and limitations, and be open to learning about what to do and what not to do in your pursuit to success. Otherwise, you’re simply hoping for the best, instead of actually doing your best.

Of course, whether you’re self-reflecting or engaging in meaningful discussions with mentors or direct reports, you can’t stop at figuring out what you need to do. You also have to come up with a plan for constant and continuous improvement.

Bill Gates is a prime example of someone who is aware of his skills and capabilities, and used these assets to build his brand. He’s a Harvard dropout, but that didn’t stop him from dabbling in one of his greatest interests—computers and software. He dedicated years to establishing Microsoft as the most recognized computer software firm in the world.

Then, acknowledging his contribution to technology and realizing he can do more with his hard-earned resources, Bill Gates pursued philanthropic endeavors that focus specifically on providing healthcare and alleviating poverty in developing countries.

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

– Carl Jung

Assess your skills and evaluate your needs and aspirations. This lets you gain clarity about what you’re supposed to be doing and manage challenges better. As a result, you can make pragmatic business decisions and effectively inspire others to do the same.

Remember: If you don’t have the ability to lead yourself, you can’t lead others.

Observe the Experiences of People Around You

Culture, as many companies and organizations have proven worldwide, eats strategy. But the thing about culture is that you can’t dictate it; you can’t tell people how to act. 

Instead, culture is the collective experience that your team builds, from rank-and-files to mid-level managers to c-suites. This is something you want to align with. So, make an effort to interact with your team and observe their everyday work experience.

“Your consideration for the individuals involved has to be higher than your focus on the task to be done.”

– Ron Williams

It’s worth noting that communication can get lost in translation as it trickles from rank-and-employees to supervisors to managers to executives, and vice versa. You want to make sure everyone is on the same page and that all actions and decisions made across all levels of your organizations are aligned with the company’s goals and values. This is where communication skills come in. And not just one way communication, but active participation in a two way conversation.

Disney has done a wonderful job at this by cultivating a community mindset and a storytelling culture that empowers all employees to embody the optimism and sense of family that the brand displays across its products, media and entertainment, and theme parks. The brand maintains stakeholders’ interests and keeps employee morale and engagement high through various programs, such as its corporate social responsibility initiatives..

Another reason to be in touch with your team is because, according to Deep Patel for Entrepreneur, mindfulness is the antidote to toxic people. Avoid disrupted productivity by addressing doubts, uncertainties, and adversities before they escalate.

Evolution is the Ultimate Sign of Leadership Success

The digital era has changed leadership in many ways, one of them being the emphasis on response time, especially when you’re dealing with multi-stakeholders issues that don’t just affect you. As a leader, you must quickly address concerns, identify solutions, and generate alternative options in ways that make everyone involved feel validated— all this without compromising your values or holding on to your comfort zone.

If you truly want to succeed in leading yourself and leading organizations, accept that the concept of leadership will keep evolving as society continues to innovate and move forward. The core principles of leadership—for example, mentorship, self-awareness, and involvement—will stay but you must learn to adapt to changes and challenges.

Finally, the sooner that you realize that leadership is a journey and not a one-time celebration, the sooner you’ll start to develop the values and core competencies of a good leader. It wouldn’t even matter if your skills are innate or learned. They simply are.

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Who else is developing skills for leadership in the Bay Area? Come find out at the Bay Area Mastermind!