Every day, there are moments when you can choose to lead. Most of the time, leadership is more about these moments than it is about accomplishing grand initiatives. Making a difference is all about these moments.
When I accepted my first management role, my superior and mentor guided me to the realization that most of my time would now be spent working with people rather than with things. He wanted me to appreciate that success, for the company and for me, would come more as a result of my team’s efforts than from any task I accomplished on my own. And he wanted to raise my awareness that there would be opportunities to make a difference as a leader every single day.
This lesson was validated throughout my career. Whenever, I progressed to assume greater responsibility, my first inclination would be to prove that I had earned my new role, that my experience and skills must be leveraged to accomplish significant things. But soon, my mentor’s words would come back to me, and I would begin to pursue greater engagement with those reporting to me.
Once alerted to them, your moments of opportunity will be readily identifiable. One member of your team might need a bit of personal coaching. Or, during a meeting, there will be a time to recall your Purpose as a means of choosing between two possible paths. Or, a moment could arrive when listening to an associate reveal an ongoing conflict with a peer. Or, there will be a moment when speaking to a group about the future of your business requires leadership. Or, an opportunity to thank someone for a job well done may arise during any day.
There are many moments each day when you can choose to lead, and every one of them will make a difference that matters.
How can you be more alert for leadership moments?
When a leadership moment emerges, will you choose to seize it?
